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

Latest Episodes:

Episode #359 - Toby Busch (Stovetop) Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

Our guest this week is Toby Busch, a young man who lives out of his Ford Connect and records his life adventures on YouTube. Last year, he fulfilled a long-held dream and moved out of his van and onto the Appalachian Trail.

Along the way, he found his mix of solitude and community, and he reached Katahdin as a joyful thru-hiker. He's now back in his Connect and often moving about the country finding "70 degree weather!"

Toby recorded several of these adventures too, so you can follow along with him at his channel, which is at https://www.youtube.com/@tobyintransit2533.

Sonny Blackwell joins the MB Class of 23, with a similar plan to one of our recent team members. He put a few miles in before Christmas.

Doctor Lynne is back with another conversation for hikers about the importance of hydration on the trail. As always, she has notes on this important subject that you can download at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CJ5llgK7FUnbKnbtbWlsP6v_4dNentVa?usp=sharing.

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 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 Hiking Radio Network.

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 #358 - Amanda Wylie (Two Braids) Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

Amanda Wylie is an independent, strong young woman from Queens, NY. She hiked the Appalachian Trail last year and, despite loving the impact it had upon her, she had to address a few issues on her journey that were unexpected, and often unwanted.

Despite that, she wants her experience to inspire women to take on the trail and embrace the experience. You can follow Amanda on Instagram at http://Www.instagram.com/realamandawylie, while her clothing brand can be seen at http://Www.instagram.com/nycampcore.

Amanda has recently started a blog, so I'm adding the link to that as well. Check it out. https://twobraids.wixsite.com/twobraidsontrail?fbclid=PAAabt08On87gm-14x8Sci8eOCsrkfuR05rPe9JG_3SWr9QLbV9a0poafD2tw

Amanda also mentioned a hiker's vlog that impacted her and which she feels most ressembled trail life. It's Trailhead Justin, at https://youtu.be/z1TsIVInx6c, while the family that kindly slackpacked her to the end when she was injured are also on YouTube. They are the Skogman Family, and their channel is at https://www.youtube.com/@SkogmanFamily.

Carl Bergquist joins the MB Class of 23. He's another recent retiree, and his excitement is palpable!

Doctor Lynne follows her hypothermia segment last week with the topical "Frostbite" this week. You can see her notes on this important subject at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CJ5llgK7FUnbKnbtbWlsP6v_4dNentVa?usp=sharing

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.

Episode #357 - John Jordan (Morning Glory) Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

Today, we hear from one of the unsung heroes of our hiking world. He's not a thru-hiker–though his son did one–but he's a member of the Board of ALDHA, the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association. Where the ATC concerns itself with the well-being of the trail itself, ALDHA focuses on hikers.

John joined the board quite recently and is coordinating the ALDHA Care project, bringing a new enthusiasm to the role as he works out the best way to assist hiker hostels and, by association, hikers.

You can find out more about both the work of ALDHA and ALDHA Care at the links below. Check them out.

https://aldha.org/

https://aldha.org/volunteer/aldhacare

Our latest member of the Mighty Blue Class of 23 is Dale Shotkoski. Dale looks to me as if his trail name is a bit of a shoe-in!! You can follow Dale on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/daleshotkoski/

Doctor Lynne is back again. This week,she brings us up to date with the latest information regarding hypothermia. I've created a Google Drive Doctor Lynne file. You can gain access to it and the growing information that we'll be adding in the coming weeks by clicking the link below. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CJ5llgK7FUnbKnbtbWlsP6v_4dNentVa?usp=sharing

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 HRNTradingPost.com, or click on the store button on our network website at Hiking Radio Network.

Episode #356 - Julia Widmar (Stretcher) Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

We have one of our younger newly minted thru-hikers today. Julia Widmar was only 20 when she hit the trail last year, though she had learned so much in the previous five years as she looked forward to this journey of a lifetime.

Julia is an EMT nurse who was thoroughly prepared at Amicolola to take on the trail and, despite a three-week break in the middle, she pushed on to complete it in just over four months of trail time.

While she didn't blog or vlog herself, Julia wanted to share the blog and vlog of two of her trail friends who she met out there. Doubtless, Julia will be in some of those. For those of you who like to go down the YouTube rabbit hole, there's https://youtube.com/@ScritchsGoneWild, while trailnametales on Instagram tells the story of trail names. That's at https://www.instagram.com/trailnametales/

Chuck Faulkinberry is taking on the AT as a member of the Mighty Blue Class of 2023 by having a little twist to his hike. You can follow Chuck on his vlog, Polar Bear Treks, at https://www.youtube.com/@polarbeartreks

Doctor Lynne Savino returns to the show with some timely medical advice for our class–and others–heading onto the trail this year. She gives us her First Aid Kit list. I'll be adding this to the show notes NEXT week, so look out for that. 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.comIf 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 #355 - Nick Gagnon (Chezwick) Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

Nick Gagnon is an elite level hiker. He completed the Great Western Loop in 2022 in under 200 days, a remarkable achievement in that the loop is just shy of 7,000 miles. Virtually by definition, Nick spent a lot of time by himself, and he shares with us his coping mechanisms for such a solo endeavor.

He was so disciplined in his approach, sharing why this is so necessary for this particular trail. You can find out more about Nick by visiting his website at https://chezwicktreks.com/.

He has a foundation that helps provide funds for water projects in countries that are in desperate need of such projects to provide their citizens with water security. Scroll down on Nick's website to read about–and donate to–the foundation.

Steve Nota–a friend of the show from past years–joins our Mighty Blue Class of 2023. He came from Australia in 2022 to do the AT but had to spend time off the trail for a family emergency. He'll be heading back to complete the trail in March.

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 #354 - Billy Arthur (Backwards) Dec 29, 2022

Show notes

Our guest today, Billy Arthur, or Backwards, met and fell in love with another hiker on the AT this year. Billy had wanted to get on the trail since his scouting days, yet he left it until his late 20s and found more than he'd bargained for!

Backwards and Pigpen bonded throughout their hike and stayed together once they reached Katahdin. I'd always wondered about these on-trail romances, and Billy shares how they got together, as well as how they're coping with after-trail life.

That he'd conducted his romance with Pigpen even when they were hiking with her mother is another part of the story that really amused me! You can stay in touch with Billy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/billywarthur/.

Joanne Flagg is our latest member of the Mighty Blue Class of 23, with a flip-flop from Harpers Ferry in her future, sometime in April. She's even considering extending her thru-hike with a link up trip to Flagg Mountain, in Alabama.

Please check out our new "merch" site at HRNTradingPost.com. I've worked out how to offer FREE shipping in the US (with a small flat fee for shipping to Canada), PLUS a reduction in prices. Check it out; you may like what you see!!

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 #353 - Jason Tompkins (Out and About) Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

Jason Tompkins is our guest today, with his stories about a new long-distance trail; The Carolinian. It's new because he named it, then hiked it this year. Yet that isn't all of Jason's story. He's worked out his life for the foreseeable future to spend pretty much all his time out on a trail!

We agreed that he should come back on next year when (not if!!) he completes the East Coast Trail, from Key West up to Newfoundland, when he'll be taking in the Appalachian Trail along the way.

You can follow Jason on his adventures through his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@outandabout53/videos, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Beardeux, and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/outandabout53/.

Also today, Ron Ward steps up as another member of the Mighty Blue Class of 2023, as this Grateful Dead-loving banker takes a sabbatical to hike the AT.

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 #352 - Brittany Rosendahl (Hot Hands) Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

We're sticking with the Class of 2022 hikers once more, with Brittany Rosendahl–one of my Facebook friends–sharing the story of her hike and what brought her to the trail. She's lived a demanding life as a nurse and recalls some really tough times during the Covid Pandemic.

Sharing some more intimate details, she opens up about relationships and attitudes that she found to be so reassuring on the AT.

You can check out more about Brittany on her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNn7KRxzVYdQyNDPKxC7Kug. She also has an Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/b_rose_goes/

Nancy Farrell joins the Mighty Blue Class of 2023. She's a Canadian who has homes both north of the border and in New Hampshire. She's clearly making America her home for much of next year!

You can follow Nancy through her YouTube Channel and her Instagram pages at https://www.youtube.com/@blueskynancy3396

https://www.instagram.com/carpediemnh61/

Additionally, she mentioned two charities she's supporting through her hike. First up, is Big Brother, Big Sister. You can read more about that–maybe consider getting involved–at https://bbbsnh.org.

The other organization is the Special Olympics. You can learn more here. https://www.specialolympics.ca/british-columbia/communities/invermere

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 #351 - Samuel Crisp (Shaker) Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

This week, our guest, Samuel Crisp, is another of the Class of 2022 thru-hikers. His mature approach to the trail, his understanding and treatment of his injuries, and his intentional reflections, make for a fascinating conversation.

Sam was lucky enough to summit Katahdin with his mother; indeed, he summoned up that image to keep him motivated on the trail when the going got tough.

To see more of Sam, you can watch his hike through his vlog at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZuwzNRxP0Q&t=3s

Our latest member of the Mighty Blue Class of 2023 is Mark Carpenter, a retired firefighter, whose real concern is facing the prospect of extended separation from his wife. For many, missing family is a real test, yet it is one of many aspects of a thru-hike that we all have to face out there.

I got a message from one of our guests from the past; Stephanie "Sunshine" Lorenze. She hopes that the Mighty Blue family can help her YouTube channel move up a level by subscribing to it. She did the PCT in 2022, so subscribe if you'd like to watch her stories. https://www.youtube.com/@sunshineshikingandadventur9932/featured

While I can't promise it will be ready when you read these notes, our "merch" store is projected to be open this week. You should be able to find it at https://hrntradingpost.com/. I hope you find something there that you like!

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 #350 - Frank Dutman (Heineken) Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

Today, we have a visitor from the Netherlands. Frank Dutman first heard about the trail in some unrelated research back in the late 90s. Since then, he's immersed himself in further research, and this year he achieved his dream of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail.

We hear a European perspective, even a European sensibility, in his approach to the trail and the preparations he made towards achieving his goal. Along the way, he tended to hike mainly alone, allowing himself the luxury of self-reflection, something that he valued highly.

You can follow Frank's journey via his blog, at http://www.polarsteps.com/dut. However, it is written in Dutch so, unless you can find a translate button, you'll need to know that language!!

Also today, our fourth member of the Mighty Blue Class of 2023, Samantha Galbo, introduces herself, sharing some of her background and reasons she wants to hike next year. You can follow Samantha on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/grassrooted.ascension/.

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