Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
430 episodes - English - Latest episode: 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.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Episode #79 - Maria Wishart (Wheezy Pee)
March 22, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBFor Maria Wishart, hiking the Appalachian Trail became part of her life and, when she could no longer drive the distances required to get her AT "fix," her solution was to move to a more convenient spot on the trail. Maria and her husband had shared most of those hiking miles but after the move, her husband was constrained by work, so Maria started hiking on her own. But Maria's story is much more than another hiker doing the trail in sections. She got into hiking when she set foot on the t...
Episode #78 - Curt Ebert (Disciple)
March 15, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 74.2 MBCurt Ebert was the pastor in his local church when the call came to hike the Appalachian Trail. The remarkable circumstances surrounding that call are introduced in this conversation with Steve. Curt had little hiking experience and, though they were a family who enjoyed the open air and had gone on day hikes on the Appalachian Trail, his decision was, for many reasons, somewhat unusual. Curt's wife was able to join him for the first 50 miles of the trail, then shared the 100 Mile Wilderne...
Episode #77 - Bill King (Field Trip)
March 08, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 68.9 MBBill King has had his mind on an Appalachian Trail thru-hike since he listened to a presentation from another thru-hiker. He is a retired school teacher and has found the inspiration to start his flip flop hike in April 2018. Despite a diagnosis of neuropathy in his feet, Bill has simply battled through the pain, taken the appropriate medication and kept moving forward. Bill has an abiding love of nature and expects to be smelling the roses on his way up the trail. He also anticipates the o...
Episode #76 - Laurie Potteiger (Mountain Laurel)
March 01, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 69.4 MBLaurie Potteiger came to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to help them out prior to her attempted thru-hike in the 1980s. When her hike was over, Laurie returned to the ATC and found her passion–twice. She not only started a career there, she also found her husband! Laurie's quiet intelligence shines through in this conversation, with her extensive knowledge of the trail and its protocols informing her answers. While bear canisters are often required out west, Laurie is eager to see them ...
Episode #75 - Anna Huthmaker (Mud Butt)
February 22, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBAnna Huthmaker was one of my more surprising guests. Her story is inspirational on many levels, not least that she took to hiking when substantially overweight or, as she preferred to term it, "curvy." Her self-discovery on this journey enabled her to see herself in a different light and she felt compelled to share her experiences with others who may have been similarly reticent. Forming Trail Dames was a wonderful by-product of her own journey, and she has seen her organization for women h...
Episode #74 - Jack Jones (Quadzilla)
February 15, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBJack Jones flip-flopped the Appalachian Trail in 2016, sharing part of his time with two previous guests, Kelly Anderson and Edwin Thullen. He found the physicality of the trail to be relatively easy and, with his military training, he carried a very heavy pack. Here he is in Virginia, with the spectacular view from Dragon's Tooth behind him. His journey to the trail came via adoption from China at age eight, and Jack speaks of the dislocation that caused him, yet the trail brought home to...
Episode #73 - Ryan Linn (Guthook)
February 08, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBRyan Linn has hiked both the Appalachian Trail (in 2007) and the Pacific Crest Trail (in 2010). He gained a true appreciation of the outdoors after college, combining his love of hiking with various jobs in and around the hiking business. It was while he was on the Pacific Crest Trail that he met his eventual business partner, Paul. They were both unsatisfied with the dearth of good, accessible maps for the long trails, and both saw the potential for smartphones within the hiking community....
Episode #72 - Paul Magnanti (Paul Mags)
February 01, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 64 MBPaul Mags is a man who simply loves being outdoors. He has hiked many trails, completing the Triple Crown of the AT, the PCT, and the CDT, in 2006. He is often alone on these trips, loving the solitude. He manages his life to fit in with his hiking, referring to hiking as his passion. He is a keenly aware of the history of both the various trails and the environment through which they pass. Paul's life isn't for everybody. Indeed, it is hard to imagine that many people would prioritize the ...
Episode #71 - Matt Philippi (Jersey)
January 25, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBMatt Philippi is not currently looking to do a thru-hike of the AT. For Matt, biting off sections is a satisfying way to de-stress from his job. He contacted me to talk about the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath. It is quite some towpath, running from Washington DC to Cumberland MD and measuring over 184 miles. I had previously intended speaking with Matt but I dropped the ball on that, so it was good to hear from him again. This time, we combined his C&O hike with his experiences hikin...
Episode #70 - Jack Masters (Vagabond Jack)
January 18, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBJack Masters is a member of the Class of 2018. While he's been interested in the possibility of hiking the appalachian Trail, a year ago it didn't seem likely. But life changes, and Jack has had a tumultuous year. Despite this, he has taken control of and redirected his life and, in a couple of short weeks, Vagabond Jack will be testing himself once more. He even decided to travel and hitched his wagon to hit the road. I met Jack as a listener to my show. We emailed back and forth and he ev...
Episode #69 - JD and Amanda Anttonen (Yak and Walks With Fire)
January 11, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBI met JD Anttonen on the Appalachian Trail in 2014 and, as one often did, we shared the odd meal in a shelter and ran into one another from time to time. He was out of the military and had just suffered a traumatic life event, so his journey up the east coast of America was not without internal strife. Yet, as he made his way north, he succumbed to the beauty of the trail, the kindness of people, and the realization that he didn't have to do it all alone. Yet, when he returned home, he becam...
Episode #68 - Damien and Renee Tougas (The Von Trapp Family)
January 04, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 74.2 MBDamien and Renee Tougas have always made sure that their children were able to experience the outdoors. So it seemed a fairly natural fit to take the entire family on the Appalachian Trail in 2014. To help fund their adventure they produced a high-quality video series that followed their journey. For each member of the family, it was harder than they had expected. Despite their hardships–compounded when Renee had to leave the trail for much of the last 500 miles–they eventually for...
Episode #67 - Nate and Sharon Harrington (The Hiking Vikings)
December 28, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 71.1 MBWe first met Nate and Sharon at Trail Days in Damascus earlier in 2017. I was initially fascinated by the signs of Katahdin that Nate was selling, but he had such a compelling story to tell so I went back to him and Sharon to do a full interview. Life (or young Hank) got in the way between then and now, so it wasn't until recently that we were able to complete the interview. Neither of the children was awake as we talked, though Asher Thomas (AT) decided that he had something to say after ou...
Episode #66 - Zach Davis (Badger)
December 20, 2017 23:52 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBZach Davis didn't hike a long-distance trail until 2011, yet he was intuitively aware of the need to prepare himself mentally for the hike. Establishing his "why" allowed him to be ready for the problems that he would inevitably encounter on the trail. The fact that he contracted West Nile Disease and carried it until the end of the trail is further testimony to his desire to fulfill his goal. When Zach returned from the AT, he wrote his best-selling book, Appalachian Trials to assist other...
Episode #65 - Julie Gayheart (Jester)
December 14, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBJulie Gayheart is a very active section hiker, having completed a 12-year thru-hike in 2017, while within 800 miles of a second thru-hike spread over a number of years. Steve and Julie find plenty to discuss and laugh about in their conversation, She has a passion for the AT that shines through, feeling that it is on the AT that she is the best version of herself. Julie had plenty of problems at Mt Moosilauke in consecutive years, so much so that she regards that glorious mountain as her ow...
Episode #64 - Jim Kern
December 07, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBMeet Jim Kern, a veteran of the hiking world, yet on a mission to CLOSE THE GAPS on America's trails. He has hiked all over the world, yet his passion is here at home in Florida, with the Florida Trail. Jim started the Florida Trail in 1966, when a lot of us were in short pants back at school, while many of us weren't even born yet. Watch this short YouTube video to get a feel of what the trail is about. The picture above is of Jim overlooking the Appalachian Trail in 1967. In ...
Episode #63 - Kyle Rohrig (The Mayor)
November 30, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBKyle Rohrig was one of the first people I wanted to interview on my podcast, so it is somehow fitting that it has taken me more than 60 episodes to finally get the chance to speak with him. For me, it was worth the wait. He comes across as a modest, quiet guy with hiking now firmly in his blood. He made an attempt on the Continental Divide Trail this summer to complete his Triple Crown. The weather played a part in aborting that hike, yet he has now set himself up the opportunity to comple...
Episode #62 - Jessica Mills (Dixie)
November 23, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBJessica Mills has become something of a YouTube sensation, with her Appalachian Trail videos securing a base of support during her 2015 thru-hike. However, that support has grown exponentially this year, as she took on, and beat, the Pacific Crest Trail, battling the snow in the Sierras, then smoke from fires the rest of the way. Her breezy delivery, thoughtful commentary, great pictures (including some taken from a drone, and sheer bravado in the face of difficult conditions, have ma...
Episode #61 - Judy Mikesell
November 16, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBA thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail isn’t everybody’s idea of the best way to spend time in the woods. Judy Mikesell became interested in the trail through her son’s thru-hike several years ago. She knew that she didn’t want to thru-hike but she certainly wanted to visit the various parts of the trail. Her novel approach has enabled her to build her own version of hiking the AT without ever needing to go without a shower or needing to use a privy. To try to get as full an AT experi...
Episode #60 - Stacey Bucklin (Stylez)
November 09, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBI'm back with my class of 2014 again. This week, we have another of those powerful, independent women, Stacey Bucklin, or Stylez. Stacey had wanted to do the trail for quite some time and, when the time was right, she walked away from a job and went on her adventure. She rightly notes in our interview that interrupting your career path isn't necessarily a bad thing. Stacey is truly passionate about the trail and hiking and the outdoors in general. She even shares her current home with...
Episode #59 - Silas Schroeder (Pepper)
November 02, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBThe Appalachian Trail is a test for hikers at any stage in life and many people hike their own hikes vicariously through their family members. One of our listeners, Rick Schroeder, sent me an email to thank me for our podcast. While doing so, he mentioned that his son, Silas, had just completed a thru-hike if the trail in September. I was immediately interested in talking with Silas, as his Dad shared some of the changes in Silas that had taken place during his recent adventure. I was not ...
Episode #58 - Jeffrey Gray (Loner)
October 26, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBFrom the Class of 2012, this week's guest is Jeffrey "Loner" Gray. Jeffrey gave himself the name Loner, yet he soon discovered the extraordinary friendships that we all find on the Appalachian Trail. He originally came to the trail through the simple act of walking to waterfalls. With more waterfalls to visit, the walks became longer and longer, leading him ultimately to his thru-hike in 2012. He was an early pioneer of YouTube videos to record his adventures, having had a channel pre...
Episode #57 - Derrick, Bekah, and Ellie Quirin (Sherpa, Kanga, and Roo)
October 19, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBYou probably read about the couple who decided to attempt a thru-hike this summer with their 12-month old daughter, Ellie. I was skeptical myself when I read what they were attempting to do. Having found it tough enough to take care of myself on the trail, the thought of carrying an infant for nearly 2200 miles filled me with dread. Yet Derrick and Bekah Quirin were experienced hikers and really prepared for the trip. Ellie was clearly just along for the ride, but they had an adventure tha...
Episode #56 - Jay Parker (Beans)
October 12, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBI met Beans in my first couple of days on the trail. We shared a particularly funny evening in a bar in North Carolina and I found him to be a very funny, free-spirited kind of guy. He joined quite a large group of hikers who stayed together for several hundred miles. I would often turn up at a shelter in those early weeks to find them all having a lot of fun as a trail family. As these things do, the family split up over time and I ran into Beans once more, somewhere in Virginia. I last s...
Episode #55 - Greg and Jen Seymour (Sunsets and Chica)
October 05, 2017 07:00 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBHaving lived for several years in Costa Rica, Greg and Jen Seymour were searching for an adventure. They chose a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2017 and prepared meticulously so that they would arrive at Springer Mountain in good shape for their journey. Recording their daily progress through YouTube, they grew their audience with their charming–and often hilarious–interactions as they made their way up the trail. By the time they got to Katahdin, they had lost nearly 100lbs in weight...
Episode #54 - The Catch-Up Show (Tough Girl, BC, and Kickstarter)
September 28, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 76.2 MBWe've followed several hikers this year, with Jessa covered pretty much the whole of the way. For this week's show, I decided to find out what had happened to some of the hikers we spoke to in earlier episodes. I wanted to know whether or not they finished and how things may have changed since we spoke with them previously. These three–Sarah Williams, Byron Church, and Kyle Bock–all had vastly different paths to Katahdin, yet all three were happy to share the rest of their story with me. Sa...
Episode #53 - Jeff Alt (Wrong Foot)
September 21, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 70.4 MBWhen Jeff Alt set out to fulfil a long-held dream and hike the Appalachian Trail in 1998, he could have had no idea that his walk would eventually become the catalyst for a wonderful fund-raising effort that continues to this day. He raises money for Sunshine Homes, a facility that has been home to his brother Aaron for much of his life. Not only did he raise an enormous amount of money for this worthy cause, he became a writer and acclaimed speaker on the back of that singular decision to...
Episode #52 - Jessa Hackman (Attie)
September 14, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBFor our 52nd episode–which commemorates the fact that we've been podcasting for precisely a year–I caught up with Jessa Hackman, otherwise known as Attie. Jessa was first introduced to listeners of the show in Episode #16. She had written to me requesting Grizz's hiking preparations spreadsheet and, as I sent that to her, I wondered if she would be a candidate for a project I'd been considering. I wanted to follow a hiker in their preparations for the hike, then continue to hear from them ...
Episode #51 - Daryl Fleischer (Road Trip)
September 07, 2017 07:00 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MBDaryl Fleischer is aware that his thru-hike, hopefully with his lovely wife, is several years in his future. He has work and family responsibilities, like many of us. Yet his joy at being a weekend or occasional day hiker shines through in our conversation. He is a self-confessed trail addict and is prepared to work for his hiking fixes, including sleeping in his car overnight to get a good spot on McAfee Knob the next morning. If you'd like to follow our weekend warrior, you can co...
Episode #50 - Mike Skelton (Bearded Skelton)
August 31, 2017 07:00 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBMike Skelton is another listener who wrote into the show and immediately intrigued me. I'd asked for a few examples of the transformative nature of hiking and Mike provided me some thoughtful notes and personal examples. He is a hiker who has spent a lot of time on both the Appalachian Trail and other trails of America. He gave me some useful advice on how to avoid altitude sickness but, as you now know, my body refused to cooperate when I got above about 9,500 feet. Mike is selfless...
Episode #49 - Lynne Savino (Caboose)
August 24, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 66.3 MBLynne Savino wrote to me and gave me some funny examples of the differences between a section hiker and a thru-hiker. I have a lot of respect for section hikers and the way in which they have to rediscover their hiking legs EVERY time they go out into the woods. I love to hear these different perspectives so I invited Lynne onto the show. She told us about how she was introduced to camping as a child by her father through adventures in a GMC Motorhome. The picture below is of Lynne and her b...
Episode #48 - Edwin Thullen (Bear)
August 17, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBWhen Edwin Thullen decided to hike the Appalachian Trail he had several challenges to overcome. His sheer size made gear acquisition a formidable process, but he gathered what he could and headed for Georgia. The previous winter had been spent living out of his car, so he was expecting Georgia to be warm. It wasn't. Watch the astonishing physical and mental transformation that Bear undergoes as he learns how to do a thru-hike on the fly. Follow Bear's journey as he constantly readjust...
Episode #47 - Bethany Varner (Snap)
August 10, 2017 07:00 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBBethany Varner completed her hike on July 1 this year. She had zero overnight backpacking experience, yet she adapted so well to the challenge that she was even able to squeeze in a cruise with her boyfriend while on the trail. On the way, she rediscovered her faith in humanity, sharing her journey on YouTube with an ever-growing following. She also blogged regularly, at The Trek. You can see some of her photos from the trail on her Instagram account, and if you happen to tweet from ti...
Episode #46 - Robby and Meredith King (Doc and Tunes)
August 03, 2017 07:00 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBWhen Robby King and his daughter, Meredith decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, his wife Nancy decided that she could support them far better by driving an RV to various road crossings and providing them sustenance and a bed for the night. While Robby and Meredith covered the standard 2,200-mile length of the Appalachian Trail, Nancy chalked up over 10,000 miles of driving to back up their effort. Their story eloquently demonstrates the importance of familial love and support as hikers tak...
Episode #45 - Tim McGann (Tadhg)
July 27, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 82 MBThis week's guest is another from the Class of 2014; Tim McGann, or Tadhg. He shares his story with us and provides the perfect example of how the trail always provides. Indeed, on his first date with Erica, now his wife, she enthusiastically embraced the idea of his hike and supported him along the way, ultimately summiting Katahdin with Tim at the conclusion of his journey. Tim can be found on Facebook and would love to hear from any old friends he may have met along the way. ...
Episode #44 - Jan Leitschuh (Liteshoe)
July 20, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 72.2 MBJan Leitschuh, at the time more comfortable on a horse than hiking through the woods, found herself contemplating a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail following the death of her mother in 2001. To prepare, Jan hiked over 500 miles, including the entire length of the Long Trail. In 2003, she was ready to go. She had already done a trail journal from the Long Trail so it seemed natural to keep that idea alive on the AT. Her journal was all the more remarkable because this was nearly 15 years...
Episode #43 - Chrissy Funk (C-Funk)
July 13, 2017 07:00 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MBChrissy is a woman who came to the trail in search of herself. She had endured a difficult personal life and fallen out of love with the person she had become. While the trail can't provide every answer, it can certainly soothe, perhaps even heal, one's soul. She posted several visceral videos on her Facebook page and seemed to be conducting a thorough self-assessment. The trail had several surprises for her, with the latest surprise coming on the day that I posted this episode. Listen to my...
Episode #42 - David DeGregorio (Digger)
July 06, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBDigger was one of the guys I met during my 2014 journey and, as often happened, this short acquaintance proved to assist me in my own hike. Once he'd completed the AT, Digger went on to many other adventures, including the PCT, the Camino and a kind of freestyle journey through France, England and, ultimately Ireland. Digger is currently plotting a beautiful trail through Italy with his 10-year-old daughter, Rosie. He was also involved in a little bit of controversy over his somewhat ex...
Episode #41 - Craig McPherson (Spielberg)
June 29, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 66.1 MBI was introduced to Craig McPherson by a listener. He sent me a link to Craig's final video, one that served to represent a summary of his hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2016. It was arresting, to say the least. I've since sent this video to several friends who have been similarly moved and I can say with some authority that this is exactly how the trail feels. Interviewing Craig was just as riveting, for me. He was able to articulate several of the emotions that hit you during a thru-hike....
Episode #40 - Kelly Anderson (Sleeping Beauty)
June 22, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 67.1 MBKelly Anderson is a former professional tennis player from South Africa. She came to the US to attend Georgia Tech in their tennis program before taking up coaching positions, first at USF and then as Head Coach at Stetson. She even has her own Wikipedia entry! A chance meeting with a number of AT thru-hikers intrigued her and planted within her a desire to take on the Appalachian Trail someday. Deciding that she needed to do it sooner rather than later, she divested herself of many of her ...
Episode #39 - Trail Days (Part Two)
June 15, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 66.3 MBThis week, I've got another diverse array of guests from Trail Days in Damascus a few weeks ago. While I guess a parade of hikers could have been interviewed, I preferred to go with others associated with the Appalachian Trail, so I've managed to get another interesting mix together. Dan Bedore is hiking a kind of alternative AT, keeping the pioneering spirit of the trail alive by spending large amounts of time totally by himself. He said that he preferred it that way. When I checked his w...
Episode #38 - Kyle Bock (Kickstarter)
June 08, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 60.9 MBKyle Bock has had some dark days, not least because he lived in Alaska for over fifteen years with no running water and, for the past few years, with no electricity. Kyle has taken on the challenge of an AT thru-hike with an almost professional approach, yet enjoyed his journey as he contemplates what the trail means to him. He is expressing himself with his beautiful photographs, altering them to reflect how he felt at the time. The only contact information that he shared was his Instag...
Episode #37 - Trail Days (Part One)
June 01, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 48.1 MBA trip to Trail Days wasn't on my itinerary when I hiked the AT in 2014, so my visit this year had a dual purpose. I was going there to both see what I'd missed and to interview others who were attending. I was trying to capture some of the spirit of both Damascus at party time and the Appalachian Trail. This episode will focus on Trail Days and forms the first of two such episodes. I'm still following Attie, as she makes her way north. She has hit a few walls on the way but is upbeat pretty...
Episode #36 - Sarah Williams (Tough Girl Challenges)
May 25, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 51.3 MBSarah Williams is a true force of nature. Her goal is to inspire women and girls to think beyond the boundaries of their previously limited lives, and she has earned her recognition as a true leader in her community. To challenge herself further, she is attempting a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail from June 2017 and hoping to complete that challenge in 100 days. Her defiant self-belief and powerful determination lead her to challenge others to test themselves. Sarah quit her well-paid Ci...
Episode #35 - Byron Church (BC)
May 18, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 53.2 MBByron Church has had his sights set on the Appalachian Trail since he read Bill Bryson's book in High School, nearly two decades ago. Section by section, he has completed more than 2,000 miles of the trail and will be finishing this year. As all section hikers do, Byron has had to earn his hiking legs every year. He reached out to me to tell his story as he is soon to set out for his final leg later this year. You can follow Byron on his blog, earthandasphalt.com and contact him at earth...
Episode #34 - John Vonhof (The Foot Guy)
May 11, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 50.1 MBJohn Vonhof should be everybody's best friend. For years, he has been tending the feet of the people who most abuse them—hikers and runners. His experience as an ultra-runner led him to a life-long interest in the treatment of feet, and he understands what we do wrong and how we can correct it. I, along with many of my fellow hikers, completely ignored my feet on the trail. They hurt, my toenails dropped off one by one, and I lost feeling in my toes for about four or five months after I fi...
Episode #33 - Ron Tipton (Turkey Foot)
May 04, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 47.3 MBThis week, I'm interviewing Ron Tipton, a man who has spent his entire adult life in conservation and the environment. He hiked the trail in 1978, yet it isn't his hike that we're going to discuss in any detail. When Ron completed his thru-hike, he had already determined that this was a life and a career that he wanted to pursue. He has spent more than 40 years of his career as an advocate for public land preservation and national park protection. He became the President and CEO of the Appal...
Episode #32 - John and Melody Bock (Bypass and Songbird)
April 27, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 51.7 MBIn early November 2013, John Bock had a triple bypass following a completely unexpected heart attack. He and his wife, Melody, had planned to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail from March 2014—which is what they did. They flip-flopped and completed their adventure at Harpers Ferry in November 2014, just over a year after the news that would have postponed, or even abandoned the dreams of less determined people. Their remarkable story, along with the radical lifestyle that they have sinc...
Episode #31 - Steve Adams (Mighty Blue)
April 20, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 45.7 MBAs this is my show, I thought I'd get myself interviewed and, in the absence of any questions from my listeners, I went ahead and asked Diane, my lovely wife, to interview me. She asked me a few things I hadn't really thought too much about and, listening back as I edited the show, I realized how much I'd changed in the past few years. The thought say, ten years ago, that somebody would one day interview me about hiking was as likely as somebody asking Kim Kardashian the nuances of nuclear...
Episode #30 - Jean Sobus (Sicilian Gypsy)
April 13, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 51.5 MBWhen Jean Sobus decided that she was going to hike the Appalachian Trail, she didn't let a little thing like plantar fasciitis stand in her way. In much the same way, stage 3 breast cancer wasn't going to deter her from the Pacific Crest Trail. Jean's solution to obstacles and negativity is to go for a very long walk. Her adventures included a 60-mile walk through the night, fueled by espresso milkshake, and an encounter with what she believed to be a mountain lion. She suffered spine frac...