‘Go out and really adventure’: Blind, deaf Winthrop native completes Appalachian Trail hike
MILLINOCKET Roger Poulin, who is deaf and blind, ascended the summit of Mount Katahdin on Tuesday to likely become the first person with both disabilities to finish the entire 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail.
He hiked the rugged footpath, which spans from Georgia to Maine, with the support of Roni Lepore, a support service provider who happens to be deaf herself.
As a young child, I had so many barriers in my life, Poulin said, his sign language translated by an interpreter at a celebration in Millinocket on Friday. People kept telling me I couldnt do things, and I really took that on.
So I wanted to really let go of that and show people I could do things.
Now 46-years-old, Poulin, a native of Winthrop, has achieved his dream, one that took him four years of sweat, diligence and some blood to accomplish. When he reached Baxter Peak at the ATs northern end, he said, it was all worthwhile.
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2014/06/28/go-out-and-really-adventure-blind-deaf-winthrop-native-completes-appalachian-trail-hike/1555365
Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm all out of excuses for not walking the dog around the block.