Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
430 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 450 ratingsAn overweight, 61-year-old retiree, with zero hiking experience, decided to hike the entire 2,185.3 mile length of the Appalachian Trail in 2014. What could possibly go wrong? As his brother, Mike, commented, "It's a bit like taking up boxing and fighting Mike Tyson in your first bout." Join Steve and his guests as they discuss all aspects of the trail, from gear to Lyme Disease, then back to trail magic and injury.
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Episodes
Episode #426 - South West Coast Path (Days 15-17)
May 02, 2024 15:54 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBI’m into my third week on the trail and still spending most nights indoors. The first two weeks were always going to be that way, with John, then Richard and Wendy as part of my hike, yet the weather has intervened in this third week. Hopefully, the weather is about to turn and I’ll be able to camp outside a bit more. I’m using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serve ...
Episode #425 - South West Coast Path (Days 11-14)
April 29, 2024 07:04 - 46 minutes - 31.7 MBI’m using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by visiting https://parentingmattersfl.org/eventer/hike-with-steve-empowering-parents-one-step-at-a-time/edate/2024-04-15/. And, maybe, you’ll get a personal picture of me thanking you with your name etched in the sand during my hike. I...
Episode #424 - South West Coast Path (Days 8-10)
April 25, 2024 07:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBThe last three days have tested me yet again, though I’m pretty much on schedule. A schoolboy error on my part led to a very low energy day, though meeting dear friends at the end of the day more than made up for it. I’m using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by visiting https...
Episode #423 - South West Coast Path (Days 4-7)
April 22, 2024 07:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBThe first week has been unexpected, exciting, and even a little scary. I’m now 80 miles into the hike and just starting to feel that I’m finding my way. John has returned home, as originally planned, and the tenor of the hike has shifted as I’m on my own. I’ve been overwhelmed by the beauty of this hike, I’ve been surprised by the difficulty, and I start week two excited by the prospect of the time I’ll be spending with dear friends later in the week. I’m using my hike in the UK on the Sou...
Episode 422 - South West Coast Path (Days 1-3)
April 18, 2024 07:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBThe first three days of my South West Coast Path hike are in the books. Unfortunately, my notes weren’t in the books! I somehow lost them, so this first podcast is a little thin on detail, though full of my heart. I hope you enjoy it. I’m using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and dona...
Episode #422 - South West Coast Path (Days 1-3)
April 18, 2024 07:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBThe first three days of my South West Coast Path hike are in the books. Unfortunately, my notes weren’t in the books! I somehow lost them, so this first podcast is a little thin on detail, though full of my heart. I hope you enjoy it. I’m using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and dona...
Episode #421 - Briana DeSanctis
April 11, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBToday’s guest has recently completed a truly epic journey. Briana DeSanctis set out to hike the American Discovery Trail in January 2022. 6,800 miles later, having taken in all the seasons–twice–Briana finished her personal odyssey in February this year, becoming the first solo woman to do so. Having thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail almost a decade ago, Briana considered that it wasn’t enough for her, so she set her sights on this epic hike and worked to accumulate the funds she needed. On ...
Episode #420 - Clay Bonnyman Evans (Pony on the Cape Wrath Trail)
April 04, 2024 07:00 - 54 minutes - 50.3 MBWe have an old friend on the show today. Clay Bonnyman Evans completed his AT thru-hike back in 2015, yet his latest hike is the intriguing Cape Wrath Trail. Clay shares his experience in his own inimitable style, even adding an unscheduled walk after the hike from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Because, well, why not? Clay is a contributor to the Trek, and you can follow his blog here https://thetrek.co/the-cape-wrath-trail-the-wild-wonderful-230-mile-at-of-the-uk/ He has added further links to il...
Episode #419 - Sarah Denison Williams
March 28, 2024 07:00 - 56 minutes - 51.4 MBA few weeks ago, I met today’s guest, Sarah Denison Williams, at the Appalachian Trail Club of Florida, and was so impressed by her presentation that I invited her on to the show. But it turned out that Sarah had so much more to share than the confines of her presentation that we expanded our recording to cover it all. Sarah shares the work done by the Conservation Foundation here in South West Florida, but also speaks to the local and national implications of that work and other trusts aro...
Episode #418 - George Steffanos
March 21, 2024 07:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBWe have an old friend back on the show today, though it’s the first time I’ve met him! He is George Steffanos, writer of the hugely entertaining blog, now book, Then the Hail Came. I read the book over about 18 months and was constantly gripped by both his recall and his descriptions of the trail. Also, it was 40 years ago that George headed out on the AT, and he shares plans for a future hike in 2025. You can buy the book at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6, while you can le...
Episode #417 - Bern Leibensperger (Yardsale)
March 14, 2024 07:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBBern Leibensperger discovered the Appalachian Trail when her daughter expressed an interest in section hiking the trail several years ago. Since then, the two of them have racked up over 1,000 miles and, in an attempt to integrate further into our community, Bern and her husband Glen opened a hostel for hikers in PA. We discuss what it is that hikers need and Bern shares her own insights from her hiking. She’s also a fierce proponent of the Hike for Mental Health organization, helping out w...
Episode #416 - Audrey Payne (Glowstick)
March 07, 2024 08:00 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBWe have another successful AT thru-hiker on the show today. Yet Audrey Payne seemed very unlikely to get the chance to hike the trail a few years earlier. How she recovered, and ultimately succeeded, is a story that she tells here in a conversation with Steve. Now, six years later, Audrey has continued to hike and has just released her book about her hike in 2018. You can find it on Amazon here. https://www.amazon.com/Where-Rhododendrons-Bloom-Thru-Hiking-Appalachian/dp/B0CT5XD95X/ref=sr_1_...
Episode #415 - Al Marriott (Lookout)
February 29, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBWe have two returning guests today. First up, Al Marriott, fresh from his AT thru-hike in 2022, followed up with the PCT last year. Al shares his varied life of adventure in a great conversation with Steve. He also tells us a story of how serendipitous the trail can be, with a chance meeting with people he shared an AT shelter with the previous year. Al’s YouTube channel–Adventure Together–continues to show his adventures. You can catch it here. https://www.youtube.com/c/AdventureTogether1...
Episode #414 - Jessie Gehner (Twisted Sister)
February 22, 2024 08:00 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MBJessie Gehner, MD, is a thru-hiker from 2008 who then went to medical school. She currently works as an ER physician at Roanoke hospital, and is a member of the faculty of the Wilderness Medical Society, spearheading the Wilderness Medicine Fellowship at her hospital. She has continued her hiking life and, in her work capacity, also hikes to Everest Base Camp each year with a group of medical professionals. Jessie has provided links for both the base camp group, https://www.blueridgeadvent...
Episode #413 - Daniel Clark (Lucky Colleague)
February 15, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBWe meet another Brit on the show today. Daniel Clark is a listener to the podcast, and he filled in the form to register as a guest on our website, adding rich detail about his 2023 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. We explore some of his stories. Daniel has a terrific website that chronicles some of his other hikes. You can find it at All Walks | Ourwalks He is also on social media at Instagram and YouTube at Instagram (@walking__north) and Englishman Just Walking In our casual series ...
Episode #412 - Roxanne Lashley (Foxy)
February 08, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 61.4 MBRoxanne Lashley took on the AT last year and took her time. She had planned to go straight north to south, yet reaching Harpers Ferry past the Independence Day holiday, she knew she needed to flip north, then head back south. Roxanne finished back at Harpers Ferry and shares her story with us. In our conversation, Roxanne mentioned a couple of MeetUps, so, if you’re a lone who’d like to hike with others, check out these MeetUps Blue Hills Hiking & Biking Club | Meetup Outdoor Afro ...
Episode #411 - Molly Beth Gaynier (Breaky)
February 01, 2024 08:00 - 58 minutes - 53.3 MBOur two guests today have something in common; they’ve both thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, yet their stories have taken entirely different turns. Our main guest is Molly Gaynier, who thru-hiked the trail in 2022, relishing the experience, even dragging it out with her extended breaks to take in the whole thing. But it was after the trail that she went through something none of us would wish on our worst enemy. The grace and grit that she reveals in our conversation should alert you to th...
Episode #410 - D. J. Mullet (Dos Entradas)
January 25, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 69.5 MBDJ Mullet, or Dos Entradas, had been a hiker for several years, with the Appalachian Trail firmly in his sights. Yet a Type One Diabetes diagnosis seemed to have put paid to that dream. However, undaunted, DJ worked out not only how to manage the illness in his day-to-day life, he was able to manage it successfully on the AT in 2023. He shares his story eagerly, so that others will be inspired to do what it takes to get out into the woods to fulfill their own dreams. You can follow DJ on Y...
Episode #409 - Alyssa Whoaa (Rainbow Brite)
January 18, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBThe uniquely named Alyssa Whoaa is our main guest today. She came to me as a member of the TSX team and she is widely experienced in a variety of different adventures that have taken in many countries and even led her to the South Pole, with the North Pole her next great adventure. Alyssa has shared several links that may be of interest to listeners having heard her on the podcast. As she says, they are links to “interesting things.” Jobs in the US antarctic program (USAP): The USAP Portal...
Episode #408 - Olive McGloin and Darrell Johnson (Raindance and The Chimp)
January 11, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBOlive McGloin and Darrell Johnson don’t seem content with straightforward thru-hikes, they tend to go for the YOYO. That is: they turn around and head back the way they’ve come to complete double thrus in a season. Olive has YOYO’d the Triple Crown, with Darrell almost complete in that endeavor. Their remarkable story has, I’m afraid, been beset by some technical difficulties on my part, but their story is so fascinating that I wanted to tell it. You can follow along with their adventures ...
Episode #407 - Jason Tompkins (Out & About)
January 04, 2024 08:00 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MBJason Tompkins is a returning guest to the show this week. He was on last year, discussing a new route / trail that he came up with and named “The Carolinian.” This week, an AT thru-hike was just part of his 2023 adventure. He took on the Eastern Continental Trail, stretching from Key West in the south to Newfoundland; an epic, if ever there was one. Jason didn’t share any social links, but check out his YouTube channel at Out & About. It’s awesome. We also caught up once more with Mary M...
Episode #406 - Sarah Beatrice (Too Long)
December 28, 2023 08:00 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MBSarah Beatrice, a fellow member of the Appalachian Trail Class of 2014, is my guest today. Sarah started after me and finished before me, so we may well have met as she cruised past me! We’ll talk about her hike then, of course, but it is her after-hike life that especially interested me, with loads more travel and even a trip to Everest Base Camp. You can follow Sarah on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sbeatrice13?mibextid=ZbWKwL on Instagram at Instagram (@traveler_sarahb) and on...
Episode #405 - Clark L Ward (Wild Coyote)
December 21, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBClark L Ward is our guest this week. Clark is a Native American and, while his hike was important to him, it was the story he was sharing with hikers along the way that made his hike so meaningful for him. Clark carried an orange flag that he got people to pose with at every opportunity along the way. Naturally, it accompanied him to Katahdin. His cause was Every Child Matters and all parents will feel empathy for the children involved. Clark sent me several links–below–that will amplify th...
Episode #404 - Mary Wilson (Shades)
December 14, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBMary Wilson is our guest this week and, when you know that her trail name is Shades, the blind hiker, you’ll understand what an extraordinary endeavor she took on attempting a thru-hike in 2023. Mary is overwhelmingly positive and looks to the reasons why she can do a thru-hike as opposed to the reasons why, perhaps, she shouldn’t. Family circumstances took her off the trail after more than 600 miles, yet she has pledged to return in 2024 to get the job done. She’s a remarkable woman. You ...
Episode #403 - Lynne Savino (Caboose)
December 07, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 66.7 MBWe’ve got our favorite doctor on the show today. Lynne Savino shares with us her recent backpacking medical adventure that she was a part of, taking in the Virginia Triple Crown with a group of fellow doctors. Lynne’s excitement at merely standing on MacAfee Knob–with virtually zero view–provides us with a touching reminder of how important these special moments are. You can check out the Summer Adventure Camp she refers to in our conversation at https://www.wilderness-adventure.com/ , whi...
Episode #402 - Dan Klaiber (Rockhopper)
November 30, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 66.6 MBDan Klaiber is our guest this week and, while he had been planning a PCT thru-hike, Covid threw a wrench in the works and he had to look elsewhere. What he came up with was an epic journey through Britain, linking many established, and several not-so-well established trails to produce his very own long-distance trail. He’s a great planner, so the logistic geeks among you will enjoy reading the document he sent me, as well as his LighterPack link at https://lighterpack.com/r/lel2lg You can ...
Episode #401 - Emily Johnson (Cobweb Rose)
November 23, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBAnother newly minted thru-hiker from the Class of 23 joins us this week. Emily Johnson turned to backpacking when she met a guy who would become her hiking mentor. She found escape in the woods from her stressful job as a young nurse during Covid. Emily pushed through the horrendous variety of weather that thru-hikers encountered this year, making it to Katahdin in exactly six months. You can follow Emily at her various social media channels. On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/...
Episode #400 - Chris Marshburn (Roll Tide)
November 16, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBFor our 400th show today, I have Chris Marshburn, or Roll Tide, as my guest. Chris is a phenomenal steward for the trail, having been a Caretaker in New England and, this year, the sole Ridgerunner on the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies. His generosity of spirit, along with his curious nature, shines through in our conversation; indeed, it was during our recording that I decided he’d be the perfect guest to celebrate this episode milestone. You can see Chris’s awesome photos on Instagram ...
Episode #399 - Beth Bakke Stenehjem & Frank Levine (Dos Caminos)
November 09, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 96 MBToday, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the completion of my Camino Francés hike in 2018, I’ve invited two friends to the show to share their Caminos this year. Beth Bakke Stenjhem went for her second Camino Francés earlier this year with some friends. It wasn’t entirely plain sailing, with some nasty injuries along the way. Also today, Frank Levine and his family took on the Portuguese Camino, from Lisbon to Santiago. His story has solidified my plans for the same hike next year, thou...
Episode #398 - Kyle O'Grady (Narnar)
November 02, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 58.7 MBOur guest this week is the host of the popular YouTube channel, Kyle Hates Hiking. Kyle O’Grady did his AT thru-hike in 2018, then started his channel a year later. He’s funny, irreverent, and wryly observant. I even tried out something new in our interview. I hope you like it. You can follow Kyle on several platforms. Of course, there’s his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@KyleHatesHiking, but you can also follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kylehateshiking/ and...
Episode #397 - Aron Goss (OG)
October 26, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBAron Goss did his thru-hike this year. It was about as perfect as a hike could be, with his family supporting him every step of the way, and climbing Katahdin with him at the end. On the way, he engaged with his fellow hikers, gaining an appreciation of the community and enjoying his interactions with younger hikers he met. You can follow his progress on his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Zm4PKcsysvdb2l-nWWIrA and on his Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/ago...
Episode #396 - Ed Riggs (Phys Ed)
October 19, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 66.7 MBWe have Ed Riggs on the show today. Ed hiked the AT in 2013 and had to face some severe health issues on the way. In fact, he had to leave the trail and come back the following year to get it completed. He also faced the dilemma many of us encounter while we’re out there; keeping the family comfortable with what we’re doing, without scaring the living daylights out of them! Ed is inspirational and worth checking out on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOicX70mHbdQbG5pGqqkepw U...
Episode #395 - Chris Casado (Commissioner)
October 12, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 78.4 MBWe have a returning guest this week. Chris Casado was the guy who was able to help me overcome the difficulties I was having with altitude out West, by getting me, in a guided hike, to the top of Mt Whitney. It remains one of my proudest moments. I wanted to catch up with Chris to get his perspective of our hike and the many others he’s involved with. He’s an interesting character who gives a lot of himself in the service of others. You can find out more about TSX and the other hikes at th...
Episode #394 - Drexel Swanson (Prepper)
October 05, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 78.7 MBDrexel Swanson, or Prepper, is our guest today. Drexel was a member of the Class of 23, and his story is an epic tale of resilience and a refusal to take no for an answer. What happened to him was, at times, truly stressful–even life endangering–yet he pushed on through with a grim determination. I’ve seen pictures of the damage to his foot that he talks about in the show and, trust me with this, it isn’t something you really want to see over your breakfast. But Drexel has a YouTube channel...
Episode #393 - Laura Howe (Moonpants)
September 28, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 77.9 MBWe have a newly minted Appalachian Trail thru-hiker as our main guest on the show today. Laura Howe, or Moonpants, took on the trail with gusto. Near the end, she had a terrifying river crossing that eventually necessitated an SOS call. She made it, but had an up-close look at how things can go quickly wrong. Her can-do attitude shines through our conversation and, despite her untimely premature exit, she was able to get back on and finish the hike. You can follow Laura through Instagram a...
Episode #392 - Lee Lovelace (Hooker Tush)
September 21, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 78.2 MBLee Lovelace and I met at Trail Days this year in the author’s tent. My books are about my AT thru-hike, while Lee’s book, Sawyer’s Run, is a novel about the AT. We both share an abiding passion for the trail and I wanted Lee to come on the show to tell his story of resilience. Much of his novel is based upon real events, while plenty is made up; you decide what to believe!! Most importantly, when we spoke, he was healthy again. you can check out a few links form Lee, including his author ...
Episode #391 - Suzanne Roberts
September 14, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 90 MBSuzanne Roberts is our guest today. She shares a thoughtful, female perspective on long-distance hiking, using her 1993 JMT hike as a backdrop. The concept of a different experience from men to women had never occurred to me, but I was intrigued to hear her story. She is releasing an Anniversary edition of her book about her JMT hike, and you can find it in the links she sent me below. Almost Somewhere https://www.amazon.com/Almost-Somewhere-Twenty-Eight-Trail-Outdoor-ebook/dp/B0BYHDJQZB...
Episode #390 - Earl Porter (A.Ham)
September 07, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 100 MBIn our last episode before the 9/11 Anniversary, Earl “Chico” Porter shares his inspirational story, and mission, to help veterans contemplating suicide. Part of this was to take on a winter SOBO hike of the Appalachian Trail, starting on the 20th Anniversary in 2021. You’ll hear how Earl fared, as well as his deeper message, which will resonate with most of us. Earl has supplied me with several links, including his Blog: https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2023/06/one-way-to-mitigate-the-ris...
Episode #389 - Stephen Cole (Sweat Bucket)
August 31, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 92.5 MBSteve Cole joins us on the show today. He was a guest on the podcast about two years ago, telling us about his first big hike; Le Tour du Mont Blanc. Since then, he’s hardly stopped hiking. Today, we talk about his Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2021, as well as some of his other adventures. Steve shared his Facebook details, where he posted most of his thru-hike pictures. You can find it at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.cole.3388 And for those of you who consistently fail to score the ...
Episode #388 - Greg Johnson (Midwatch) and Betsy Hutchins
August 24, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 92.1 MBThis week, we hear from one of the leaders of the Summit Project and the mother from a Gold Star Family about what the project means to them. This remarkable effort honors the fallen from Maine in an outdoor setting that is truly inspirational. If you’d like to learn more about the project, and maybe even sign up for one of their events, check out the links below. https://thesummitproject.org https://thesummitproject.org/heroes-hundred-welcome/ https://thesummitproject.org/tsp-at-anp/...
Episode #387 - Kathie Brennan
August 17, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 75.9 MBKathie Brennan is our guest today. She is President of the Ozark Trail Association, putting in hours of trail maintenance not only on her beloved trail, but also on the Appalachian Trail. She provides us with a sharp insight into trail work, with modern practices and even talks about leaf blowing for instant gratification! Find out more about the Ozark Trail at their website http://ozarktrail.com There’s also a useful trip planner at https://www.ozarktrail.com/planner/ Two of our Class of...
Episode #386 - Steve Vilsack (Wye Knot)
August 10, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 86.5 MBSteve Vilsack joins us on the show today. He refuses to see limitations that would prevent many others from even attempting the Appalachian Trail. He is legally blind, he fell too many times to count, and he got to the end by sheer strength of character. His story is an affirmation of the human spirit that will inspire many of us to not look at what we can’t do, rather what we can do. You can follow Steve on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092445351138 and https://w...
Episode #385 - Adrienne Washney (Mother Hen)
August 03, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 91.3 MBOne of our listeners introduced me to Adrienne Washney, who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2022. She incorporated her shakedown hikes into the thru-hike, by taking the first few weeks in weekend hikes and gradually adjusting or refining her set up. When she was ready to go it alone, she’d sorted out the kinks. Adrienne had quite the adventure, even leaving the trail with about 80 miles to go to Katahdin to attend her son’s wedding; she even had a momentary pause over that! Always thou...
Episode #384 - Kristy Burns and Annette Dumbell (The Wander Women)
July 27, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 84 MBSome of the most recognizable hikers from the Class of 2019, The Wander Women, join us today. At least, two of them do. Kristy Burns and Annette Dumbell are two women in search of adventure, using their retirement time to travel, hike, bike, and canoe. They share their stories with Steve as they reminisce their adventurous life. These are two women who are clear-eyed and intentional about choosing how to spend their time. You can join in their adventures by following them on social media. ...
Episode #383 - Dan Nobles (Wandering Monk)
July 20, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 98.1 MBOur guest today, Dan Nobles, was a Colonel in the Army, working out of the Pentagon, when he quit and went to Seminary School. I think I’ve rarely heard of such a drastic change of scenery. Vowing never to hike again after he left the military, his brother coaxed him back into it and he found the solace on the trail that he needed. Dan has some fascinating takes on many topics in this interview and, as the Wandering Monk, he has an informative YouTube channel that visits lesser-known trails...
Episode #382 - Nancy East
July 13, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 70 MBOn today’s show, we have Nancy East, a retired veterinarian who is also an avid and accomplished hiker. Nancy is the perfect person to talk about dogs on the trail from a vet’s perspective. As somebody who know’s literally zero on the subject, I turned to my good buddy, ChaptGPT, to help me out with my questions that seemed to cover the subject pretty well. You can find more about Nancy’s rich hiking life and hiking achievements by visiting her website at https://www.hopeandfeathertravels....
Episode #381 - Kevin Kinne
July 06, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 89.2 MBToday, we hear from a man who really loves the AT. Kevin Kinne and I have been communicating since 2017, and he maintains part of the AT near Great Barrington. He also provides trail magic for hikers, forming firm friendships along the way. One such meeting resulted in a thru-hike of the JMT with the Suttons and their son, Harvey. You can follow along with their journey at Kevin’s YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTX1tw8B4M1VYKsfJnEH8GA If you’re inspired to volunteer for ...
Episode #380 - Samantha Sharkey (Lemon Drop)
June 29, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 89.7 MBWe’re back to our usual format this week, with our main guest, three catch up interviews with our Mighty Blue Class of 2023 and the next chapter of George Steffanos’s “Then the Hail Came.” I met Samantha Sharkey at Trail Days this year and invited her to come on the show. She shares a deeply personal story and truly had a life-altering hike. That is an often hyperbolic statement, though not in Samantha’s case. You can see more of Samantha’s hike on her Instagram at https://www.instagram.co...
Episode #379 - Jillian Hitt (Buckets)
June 22, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 56 MBThis is an unusual show for us. Our guest, Jillian Hitt, who attempted a thru-hike in 2018, isn’t on the show, though three important people in her life are on to share her story. Centrally, we hear from Jillian’s mother throughout the show, with contributions from her best friend Jessica Berringer and one of her hiking partners, Thomas Steiner, or Scatter. This is all intended to celebrate Jillian’s life and the legacy and imprint on the lives of people she knew. As you can see from the p...
Episode #378 - The Mighty Blue Class of '23 Update
June 15, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 99.9 MBThis week is all about the members of the Mighty Blue Class of 2023. We’ve never had the opportunity to track them down all at the same time, so I thought this week, in the middle of June, would be as good a time as any to take stock. We hear the latest disappointments, as well as the wonderful moments that they have all experienced. In editing this, I was made more aware than ever of the fickle nature of the Appalachian Trail and its ability to still surprise me. If you'd like to find ou...