Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis

Latest Episodes:

Episode #379 - Jillian Hitt (Buckets) Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

This 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 picture below, Thomas eventually carried Jillian's "bucket" to Katahdin and proudly showed it off.

Jillian's mother, Dana, is the thread that runs through her daughter's story, and both Dana and her ex-husband were instrumental in instilling the love of the trail to their daughter.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6.

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com. If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

You can also support our shows by visiting our online "Merch" store. Check it out at https://hrntradingpost.com/, or click on the store button on our network website at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

Episode #378 - The Mighty Blue Class of '23 Update Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

This 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 out more about "Then The Hail Came," (even though I'm not reading to today) check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/ . You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

You can also support our shows by visiting our online "Merch" store. Check it out at https://hrntradingpost.com/ , or click on the store button on our network website at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com .

Episode #377 - Spencer McKay (Warpzilla) Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

Our guest today, Spencer McKay, completed his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2007. The poignant reason he went on the trail at that time is told in his conversation with Steve this week.

As an Eagle Scout, he always believed he'd hike the trail at some time during his life, but events of the previous winter pushed his timeline up considerably.

You can see more of Spencer on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/warpzilla and if you'd like to read his book, Walk With You, you can find it on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Walk-You-Spencer-Warpzilla-McKay/dp/0692178929/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FY4V2Y59EGIN&keywords=walk+with+you&qid=1685651232&sprefix=walk+with+you%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1

Three more members of our Mighty Blue Class of 2023 give us recaps of their progress so far.

First up, Dale Shotkoski is through the Virginia Triple Crown, having to endure a whiteout at McAfee Knob. With more than 700 miles to his credit, Dale is killing it.

Then, Jessica Lang-Wright has shown so much resilience to still be out there. I met her in Damascus and she looked so well. This week, she continues to thrive and we celebrate her passing the 600-mile marker.

Finally in our group, Joanne Flagg is way up north, pushing through Vermont on her flip flop. Can't wait to hear how she gets on in the two big states of New Hampshire and Maine up next.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

Episode #376 - Mark Beno (Papa Dump) Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Mark and David Beno, a father and son hiking team, took on the Appalachian Trail in 2022. Mark shares their story in this week's show. The two of them chose to flip flop, choosing an unusual plan by leaving from Damascus headed north in March, then flipping back to Damascus after summiting Katahdin and heading south.

This was more than a bucket list item for Mark, and he appreciated the community he found himself in.

You can follow Mark and David's hike on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mbeno1?mibextid=LQQJ4d

We catch up with our most recent–and last–starter in our Mighty Blue Class of 23. Nancy Farrell heads out this week after allaying her concerns over her boyfriend's health. We'll find out soon how those early miles affect her.

Betty McEnaney caught a lot of rain this week, and shares THAt story with us all.

I've recently been to Trail Days and followed that by five days back on the AT with three friends. I share a little of that experience with you all.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

Episode #375 - Al Marriott (Lookout) May 25, 2023

Show notes

We have a shorter show than usual today, as I'm away hiking. There is still a great interview and the next segment of the book "Then the Hail Came."

Al Marriott is an adventurous guy, traveling worldwide to satisfy an urge to wander, recording his journeys via his YouTube account. His mind fell to the Appalachian Trail, and he set out to do it last year.

Al is a natural storyteller and shares some poignant moments out there, particularly with his tramily, though an unpleasant encounter with a tree branch was also something of a high(low)light.

You can follow Al on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AdventureTogetherOfficial , on Instagram at both https://www.instagram.com/adventuretogether.ig/ and https://www.instagram.com/Afrocrow/, while his YouTube channel is at https://www.youtube.com/adventuretogether1

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully appreciated.

Episode #374 - Kelly Jaworski (Birdie) May 18, 2023

Show notes

Kelly Jaworski hiked the AT in 2021 with a former guest of the show, Stuart (Puppy Love) Phelps. I reached out to her when I saw her epic summit photo on Facebook. She returned my invitation to the show a year later!! She had an excellent excuse, though; she was having a baby.

Kelly came on the show and demonstrated that, even though we walk the same path, even when we hike with the same person, our perspective informs our story, and those perspectives are often so different.

She doesn't use social media extensively, so she suggested I repost Stuart's Instagram, in which she figures extensively. https://www.instagram.com/stuphelps/.

We lose another member of the Mighty Blue Class of 2023 this week, when we catch up with Ron Ward, Steve Kortekamp, and Mark Carpenter. You'll have to listen to find out who's gone home.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

Episode #373 - Jana Giles & David Nelson (Ducky & Gravy) May 11, 2023

Show notes

We have a young couple as our guests this week; Jana Giles and David Nelson, otherwise known as Ducky and Gravy. They have known each other for some time but, in planning to go on an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, they started dating just before they headed out on the trail.

Despite putting their relationship on the line, they clearly worked it out, finishing just five months after starting South bound from Katahdin.

Jana wrote a blog for the Trek, so you can check that out at http://thetrek.co/author/jana-giles

Our intrepid three from the Class of 23 are Steve Nota, who describes his encounter with the dreaded Norovirus, Joanne Flagg, who is gratefully through with Pennsylvania, and Dale Shotkoski, who puts some of Doctor Lynne's advice to use.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

Episode #372 - Patch Leonard (Cold Brew) May 04, 2023

Show notes

We have Patch Leonard as our guest today. Patch is the son of Emily Leonard–a previous guest on the show–and he tells us of his own Appalachian Trail thru-hike last year.

He has grown up in Maine and New Hampshire, so hiking was more or less in his blood, yet the idea to hike the trail came after his mother blazed her way to Maine.

You can follow Patch's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@ColdbrewPatch, but first, savor this sight at the top of an empty Katahdin early in the morning on Patch's Summit Day. Awesome.

Our three conversations with our Class of 23 were all very positive.

Betty McEnaney has to cope with an internal crisis, while Bryan Robbins starts, gets off trail to retire, then heads back out, while we hear from Mary Marks–with Wiley–from Virginia's Triple Crown.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

Episode #371 - Zach Cross Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Zach Cross is starting his NOBO thru-hike from Springer on May 1. That he is even attempting this hike is something of a miracle. Three years ago, as Covid hit us, Zach weighed about 400lbs. His journey since then, aided by hiking and nature, has brought him to contemplating an epic undertaking.

The simple act of committing to a daily hike up and down a mountain in Georgia speaks of his determination to not only feel better about himself, but also to inspire others, and that initially small actions can have such powerful repercussions.

You can follow Zach on his journey at https://instagram.com/hikingzach?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=, as well as on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@AT_Zach. You can hear his brief interview on CNN at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2g7jkLDd9c

Our Mighty Blue Class of 2023 is thinning out a little this week.

We say goodbye to Erin Conrad (and her Mom), and Sonny Blackwell, while Dale Shotkoski is still out there, lovin' his life.

As we say goodbye to Erin, here's a pic of the two of them at the top of Springer.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

Episode #370 - Jim LePage (Grey Ghost) Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

Jim LePage is a man who spends a lot of time outdoors. He hiked the AT in 2018, having thought about it for years. The proverbial window of opportunity eventually opened, and he climbed straight through it.

Jim talks about the importance of spousal support and was lucky enough to have his family either hiking with him or resupplying him. Overcoming doubts as to his ability to finish, Jim managed it to the end and returned home with his accomplishment secure.

He owns a camp with a spectacular view over Katahdin. Imagine waking up to these views for weeks on end!!

Three of our Mighty Blue Class of 23 are with us today.

Jessica Lang-Wright has had a difficult time of it so far, but her support has come from her fellow hikers–as it always does.

Then, Ron Ward is cheerfully battling a weak knee, yet his attitude remains completely positive.

Finally, Joanne Flagg has started her flip flop from Harpers Ferry. She's coping with some unseasonably hot weather but finding her feet.

Remember to check out our Woods Hole Weekend Video Series, which is currently available–UNTIL THE END OF APRIL–for $100 off. You can see the trailer at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/p/woods-hole-weekend/

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