Episode #514 - Mike, Molli, and Kayla McCarthy (Blue Pére, Bad Camel, and Popeye)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis · Nov 6, 2025 · 43m

We've got a family of three on the show today, with Mike, Molli, and Kayla McCarthy sharing their own hiking story. I met Molli and Kayla on my 2014 thru-hike, and found them to be charming company. Mike had started with them but had to get off trail due to an injury, supporting them the rest of the way.

For Kayla, it wasn't the end of her long-distance hiking, with an aborted attempt through injury on the PCT the following year. She still hikes but is concentrating on her career right now.

Molli and Mike also successfully completed the Camino this year, albeit a few months prior to my hike…