Princeton University Sophomore Chance Fletcher walked his way through two pairs of shoes while covering 900 miles in 30 days, retracing the steps of his Cherokee ancestors on the Trail of Tears.

He said the journey from Red Clay State Park in Tennessee to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, near his hometown, was difficult at times, especially during the heat of the afternoon. Reflecting on the trials Cherokees faced during the Trail of Tears helped him maintain the right perspective.

“Sure, I am getting hot and sweating, but that is not anything compared to what my ancestors faced,” Fletcher said. “I am walking home, and they were walking away from their homes. I had fancy gear, and some were not wearing shoes during the winter. People were mean to them, but people were nice to me. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t that bad.”

Fletcher hit the road after receiving a Martin A. Dale ‘53 Summer Award from Princeton University, where he is pursuing his undergraduate education.

According to Princeton’s website, the goal of the award is to, “enable a small number of Princeton University sophomores to pursue worthy projects that provide important opportunities for personal growth, foster independence, creativity and leadership skills, and broaden or deepen some area of special interest.”

Fletcher said because so few students receive the award, he and many other applicants plan alternative opportunities for the summer. When he was notified that he was a recipient, he quickly changed his summer plans to accommodate a new adventure.

The award helped him purchase necessary supplies for the month-long walk.

In addition to his sleeping gear, tent and others necessary supplies, Fletcher carried a water filtration system to gather water from streams when he was in remote locations, without businesses or homes nearby.

“Normally, I would just go knock on someone’s door and say, ‘Hey, can I use your water faucet.’ But if there wasn’t anyone, I would filter out of a creek or river,” he said.

Every day, Fletcher would wake up before the sun, take down his camp in approximately 10 minutes, begin walking until he was tired and eat along the way. When it was time to set up camp for the night, he would scout out a home or call a church to ask if he could sleep in a tent on their property. 

“At first, I would just walk up to houses and knock on the door,” he said. However, after a week, Fletcher decided that when he would reach a town to stop at for the day, he would contact local churches first and explain his project to them.

Generally, families and churches alike were receptive and welcoming. During the trip, only one homeowner rejected his request to set up camp. “I ended up staying mostly in churches’ yards,” said Fletcher.

Fletcher said the journey taught him there is still a lot of good in the world. Vehicles on the road consistently asked him if he was in need of a ride, and many people offered him food when he was camped for the night.

Furthermore, he said he gained a deeper understanding and a new perspective on a historical event.

The walk was quiet, which was sometimes a challenge for Fletcher. According to his mother, Ann Fletcher, he definitely enjoys conversations. She was concerned about him during the trip, especially since he traveled the trail alone.

“When he said he was going by himself, I said, ‘Are you kidding me?” And he said, ‘No mom, I am serious,’” Ann Fletcher said.

Chance Fletcher brought a GPS tracker with him on the journey, and would check in during the evenings to ease some of her worries. More than anything, Fletcher enjoyed making it back home so he could finally sit and relax for the rest of his summer break.

“It isn’t for everybody, but I hope more Cherokees decide to walk the Trail of Tears,” he said.

Read the original story on from The Claremore Progress here.