Shows / Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
An 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.
Episodes
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #339 - TSX Challenge (Part 1)
As many of you know, I recently fulfilled a long-held ambition to climb Mt Whitney. While I was out on this group-led hike, I could reflect upon what it is to…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #338 - Clay Bonnyman-Evans (Pony)
Our guest today is Clay Bonnyman-Evans, a friend of the show and a previous guest from our early days. Clay came onto the show in 2017 to talk about his 2016…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #338 - Clay Bonnyman-Evans (Pony)
Our guest today is Clay Bonnyman-Evans, a friend of the show and a previous guest from our early days. Clay came onto the show in 2017 to talk about his 2016…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #337 - Ryan Leighton (Ken Burns)
Ryan Leighton is our guest this week and, though not a thru-hiker, he has probably impacted more people with regard to long-distance hiking than many of our…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #336 - Kelly Thomas (Spotter)
I found Kelly Thomas, or Spotter through my rather unhealthy habit of cyber stalking the Appalachian Trail Facebook pages. She had just summited, and her proud…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #335 - Ted Lovett (Bulldog)
Just a week before I head out to hike in California, and we have another "vintage" hiker to hear from today. Ted Lovett, or Bulldog, wanted to hike the AT and…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #334 - Kevin Newsome (Reckless Abandon)
This week's guest, Kevin Newsome, completed his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail a year ago. I'd briefly met him at Trail Days while he was on his hike (we…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #333 - Monica Aguilar (Moss)
Our guest today is Monica Aguilar. Monica has been putting in the miles for the past four years, having thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018, then…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #332 - Nathan Echols
Nathan Echols recently completed a sub-70 day, supported, thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail. How he was able to even set foot on trail is an extraordinary…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #331 - Arlette Laan (Apple Pie)
The remarkable Arlette Laan is this week's guest. Arlette recently completed the eleventh and final leg of her quest to hike all the National Scenic Trails…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #330 - Amber and Josh Niven (Dandelion and Still Don't)
Amber and Joshua Niven were next to me in the Author's Tent at Trail Days, and I asked them to come on the show when I heard their great stories of having…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #329 - Emily Leonard (Black Bear)
I met Emily Leonard and her husband Bruce at the Author's Tent at Trail Days in Damascus early this year. Not only does Emily write about her AT hikes, but she…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #328 - Kayla and Ken Bold (Nugs and Kenbo)
Father and daughter hiking partners, Kayla and Ken Bold, came to the Appalachian Trail with Ken originally intending to hike just a section in support of his…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #327 - Jeff Hayes (Speedo)
This week, we have a first for the podcast. Initially, our principal guest, Jeff Hays, lays out his views on why the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #326 - Ian and Eve Alderman (Our Spectrum Adventures)
Today, we have Ian Alderman on the show. Ian and his daughter, Eve, are hiking the entire length of Britain. While it isn't a super long hike, it is still over…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #325 - Dennis Pack (Bookworm)
Dennis Pack is nearer my generation of hikers, and this week he shares the story of his 2021 flip flop. He's a great believer in serendipity and enjoyed the…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #324 - Natisha Webb (Calypso)
Natisha Webb wrote to me recently about my West Highland Way trip, telling me she'd already booked to go on the same hike next year. We corresponded, and it…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #323 - Nathan and Kimm Wright (Switchback and Crewhiker)
Today, we have Nathan and Kimm Wright, from the Pinhoti Outdoor Center. I met them both at Trail Days this past weekend, and we got into a discussion on the…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #322 - Chris Veasey (Idaho Bones)
Our guest today is from the AT Class of 2017. His name is Chris Veasey, and we share an open chat about his experiences on the trail. He flip-flopped, heading…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #321 - Brian Anderson (The Tick Terminator)
This week, we have the aptly named Tick Terminator, otherwise known as Brian Anderson. Brian has had a fascination with ticks–and how to terminate them–for…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #320 - Mighty Blue on the West Highland Way
This week's show is all about my recent "saunter" on the West Highland Way in Scotland. As many of you know, I'd never hiked before I moved to the US, and I…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #319 - Mighty Blue Class of 2022
Today, we catch up with ALL (available) members of the Mighty Blue Class of 2022. Having been away for more than five weeks, I've missed their starts–in many…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #318 - Traci Galyon (Reroute)
Our guest this week is Traci Galyon, or Reroute. Traci's evolution from irregular hiker to thru-hiker is interesting, in that it was her husband Don who was…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #317 - Ken and Allie Dravis (The Praise Team)
Today's guests were known as the Praise Team on the trail, with the purpose of "spreading cheer" on the trail. As committed Christians, Ken and Allie Dravis…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #316 - Ken Good (PTL)
Ken Good is today's guest. Ken took the name PTL (or Praise the Lord) on the Appalachian Trail. If you followed Ken's YouTube channel–Bestill on the…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #315 - J. Robert Harris (JR)
We have a wonderful story on the show today. J Robert Harris grew up in New York during the 1960s. His folks realized that the New York streets were no place…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #314 - Bonita Curtner (Mother Goose)
I was introduced to Bonita Curtner, otherwise known as Mother Goose, by a listener. Bonita is something of an overachiever when it comes to racking up hiking…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #313 - Hope Westall (Everest)
Hope Westall is today's guest. Hope is the owner of Alt Route Meals, yet it is her hiking and her traveling that made me want to interview her on the show. But…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #312 - Shepard Smith (Soundscape)
Shep Smith, or Soundscape, had a particular mission when he was on the Appalachian Trail. As a former oceanographer, Shep chose to map the sounds of the trail…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #311 - Lee Brackman (General Lee)
I have a wonderful reunion this week, with Lee Brackman, General Lee, from my Class of 2019. Lee and I ran into each other in Virginia and hiked around each…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #310 - Kelly Hays (9 Lives)
This week, another intrepid young woman shares her story with us. Kelly Hays, who has developed quite a following on YouTube, hiked the Appalachian Trail in…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #309 - Grant Breidenbach (Detour)
Grant Breidenbach is our guest this week. Grant hiked the John Muir Trail in 2021, his longest backpacking trip to date. But, as you'll hear, his preparation…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #308 - Will Henry (Teaberry)
This week, we have four guests on the show, with Will Henry leading the way. Will tells us about his 1994 Appalachian Trail thru-hike. He also talks about…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #307 - Annmarie Noonan (Vista Seeker)
My guest today is Annmarie Noonan. Annmarie wrote to me recently to tell me about her passion for hiking the Appalachian Trail. Indeed, it was the words from…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #306 - Steve Barbour (Trail Dust)
Steve Barbour is the Executive Director of the Sheltowee Trace Association, and our guest this week. Steve hiked the Appalachian Trail in the mid-2000s, and…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #305 - Garrett Tandy (Jive Turkey)
Garrett Tandy is this week's guest, a 2021 flip flopper who finished at Delaware Water Gap in October 2021. He has fresh memories that he shares in a…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #304 - Michael Dunford (Honeybun)
My guests normally get on the show through listener suggestions, but this week, I found Michael Dunford on Facebook. He received a remarkable letter from a…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #303 - Sarah Robison (Serendipity)
Our guest today is Sarah Robison. As you'll hear, she is very reflective about the hike and how it came about, articulating clearly some of her thought…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #302 - Kyle Stranagan (Huck Finn)
We have another of the newly minted Class of 2021 thru-hikers today. Kyle Stranagan, or Huck Finn, was just as inexperienced as I was when he started his own…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #301 - Reta Walton (Fire Goddess)
A few weeks ago, one of our recent guests, Shannon Shaver, connected me to today's guest, Reta Walton. Reta has wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail since she…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #300 - Life Lessons From the Trail
This week is our 300th episode, and we're doing something a little different, including minimal show notes!! Every guest we've had in the past has shared their…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #299 - Shannon Finn (Joy)
Shannon Finn became Joy this year. I followed her on Facebook and appreciated her visceral writing, where she rarely held back if she had something to say…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #298 - Gail Muller (Hot Mess Express)
This week's guest, Gail Muller, is another of those unlikely adventurers, whose story is a breathless tale of triumph against a debilitating illness and…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #297 - Tom Sherry (Stellar)
Tom Sherry has been on a bit of a tear regarding long-distance hiking over the past few years. His hiking bio is growing quickly, and I took the opportunity to…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #296 - Lisa P Parker (Tex)
This week's guest is another of those intrepid female hikers who follow their passion and find out what the world has in store for them. Lisa Parker has had a…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #295 - Rebecca Brackbill (Savage)
When I went out to hike the AT in 2014, I met a breed of woman I'd hardly known existed. These were strong-willed, fiercely independent young women, many of…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #294 - Sarah J. Ellison (Sheepdog)
We have another section hiker on the show this week. I recently saw Sarah Ellison's awesome summit picture at the top of Katahdin, joyously capturing the end…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #293 - Emanuel & Karen Bravo (Ema el Astronauta & Hungry Marmot)
Our shows come together each week with a kind of serendipitous whimsey. This week's guests, Emanuel and Karen Bravo, wrote to me to share how they had prepared…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #292 - Lord Thomas Bouissaguet (Lord Tom)
You're going to love the story that today's guest is going to tell you. Lord Thomas Bouissaguet is part of a group of French visionaries whose ambition is to…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #291 - Shannon Shaver (Feather Blue)
I recently saw a bunch of hikers finish under a banner headline of "Warrior Expeditions," and I was drawn to a black and white summit picture of today's guest…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #290 - Deb Taylor and Danny Mooney (Sundial and FIIK)
We have a husband and wife section-hiking team on the show today. Deb Taylor and Danny Mooney have done Iron Man races, Triathlons, and Marathons for years…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #289 - Chris Casado (The Commissioner)
Chris Casado was lucky enough to be taken on a hiking trip in the Sierras at the age of 14 by a teacher who became a good friend. Fast forward 25 or so years…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #288 - Christian Foster (Bear)
We rarely feature A.T. Southbounders on the show, but this week's guest is halfway through his SOBO hike of the Appalachian Trail. Christian Foster, or Bear…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #287 - Person Irresponsible (P.I.)
For the Mighty Blue show, it's a bit of a first today. Our guest is Person Irresponsible, or PI, and she is as unlikely a hiker as you've ever met. Yet, with…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #286 - Eric Patterson (Wild)
In the show this week, we have one of those guys who has wanted to do the Appalachian Trail for pretty much his entire life. That kinship with the trail and…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #285 - Daniel Winsor (Beta)
Today's guest, Daniel Winsor, will make you wonder for his sanity, then marvel at his tenacity. He decided that a hike through the Sierras in snow would be a…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #284 - Josh, Cassie & Harvey Sutton (Hot Hands, Straps, and Little Man)
Another stellar story for you all this week. Josh and Cassie Sutton started a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail back in the middle of January 2021. Apart from…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #283 - Jesse Cody (The Boston Mule)
Jesse Cody had never hiked until he read Bill Bryson's book, "A Walk in the Woods." Something within the book spoke to him, and he saw a thru-hike as a way…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #282 - Randi Silverman (Founder of the Youth Mental Health Project)
This week's guest is Randi Silverman, the founder of the youth Mental Health Project. I think I can do no better than to replicate the notes that Randi sent me…
- Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episode #281 - Richie Holbrook (Walks With Donor)
About ten years ago, you would never have guessed that Richie Holbrook would be taking on the Appalachian Trail. He was in a wheelchair, on oxygen, and with a…