He was a beloved legend on the Appalachian Trail, a generous, devout hiker known for his kindness and Jerry Garcia beard.

To his fellow thru-hikers, he was "Bismarck." But to the FBI, he was James Hammes, a fugitive accountant who had vanished after allegedly embezzling $8.7 million from his employer. For years, he lived a double life, hiking thousands of miles while hiding in plain sight.

In this episode, we unravel how a massive white-collar crime led to an unexpected arrest on the A.T., explore the dark secrets of his past, and uncover how his hunger for the spotlight and a TV rerun finally brought his run to an end.

Noteworthy sources for this episode

"A Long Walk's End" by William Browning (SB Nation Longform): A deep dive into Hammes' life on the trail.

"American Greed: The Fugitives" (Season 1, Episode 4): The TV episode that led to his capture.

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