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

Latest Episodes:

Episode #80 - Ben Barbante (Juan Durer) Mar 29, 2018

Show notes

Juan Durer has certainly earned his trail name. Once he had decided that living for now was far better than waiting for retirement, he has been a man on a mission. He hikes then moves on to the next hike. When Steve caught up with him, he was just two miles into another long-distance hike.

He is rational, indeed intentional, with the life he is leading and his laugh comes easily and is contagious. Since he finished the AT in 2016, he has hiked in Japan, Australia, Africa, and done "a couple" of Caminos in Spain.

You can contact Juan / Ben through Facebook at Juan Durer.

Kristen Brown explains the origin of her trail name before telling us about the White Oak Canyon/Cedar Run loop in Shenandoah National Park. You can find out more about this beautiful short hike at hikingupward.com.

As always, we thank our Sponsors, Trailtopia for their support and hope that you support them when considering your hiking food requirements.

All our four shows will be available at one platform, the new HikingRadioNetwork.com, which will be open on Sunday, April 1. I hope you drop by to listen to our other shows as well as this one.

Episode #79 - Maria Wishart (Wheezy Pee) Mar 22, 2018

Show notes

For 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 trail for the first time, on Mount Greylock. Discovering what the trail was all about, she researched and set out on her journeys, with her husband. Another impetus was her dying father's wishes on his bucket list. What she learned from his bucket list was extremely instructive.

She is enthralled by the trail and has now completed just over half of the entire 2,190-mile length of the AT.

Maria will be happy to hear from you through Facebook or Instagram, while you can email her at wheezypee@aol.com

On today's show, we also heard about two upcoming shows on the Hiking Radio Network. First, Dixie "LIVE" on the Continental Divide Trail will be available later this week. Watch the Mighty Blue Facebook page for announcements.

The other show that I announced today is Anna Huthmaker's show, The Trail Dames Podcast, where Anna interviews like-minded, empowering and empowered women on mountains and in forests. You can find Anna's show on iTunes and everywhere you listen to podcasts. Alternatively, you can click the show name (above) and be taken directly to episode #1.

Please remember that Bruce Matson is onto week number four in his AT bid. You can find that show at Returning to Katahdin on iTunes or by clicking the link above.

Last, but certainly not least, my eternal thanks to our sponsors, Trailtopia. Check out their latest food offerings and be delighted by the taste.

Episode #78 - Curt Ebert (Disciple) Mar 15, 2018

Show notes

Curt 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 Wilderness with him. Katahdin looms in the distance behind them.

While his children remained at home, they were able to visit and support him on his journey. Here they are at the 1500 mile mark.

Steve's intellectual curiosity and Curt's unwavering faith make for an absorbing conversation.

If you'd like to learn more about Curt or contact him, he can be found on Facebook, at 2Corinthians57, on YouTube at Not By Sight, and on Instagram at notby_sight.

Don't forget to visit our sponsor, Trailtopia.com and, while you're at it, why not see if there's anything you fancy on the Mighty Blue Merch Store.

Episode #77 - Bill King (Field Trip) Mar 08, 2018

Show notes

Bill 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 occasional chase after the perfect butterfly picture.

His students–several now in their 30s and 40s–have been following Bill's preparations on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bill.king.5454 and his blog at billkingfieldtrip.weebly.com. Now you can follow him as well. We wish him the best of luck for his hike this year.

I recently saw a great little post on Facebook that showed a backpack / bivy tent combination that weighs in at just over one pound! The BivyPack is the idea of Ken Flannery, who has been on the road for the past ten years. I invited Ken on the show to tell us how he invented it. Click on his Kickstarter link to see the video. He also has a personal blog and a podcast. Click on the links to access either or both of these.

Last, but definitely not least, Jack Masters, or Vagabond Jack, checked in and we had a chat about the progress he's made on his thru-hike so far. If you'd like to follow Jack, his blog is at Trail Journals.

Don't forget to listen to our companion show, Returning to Katahdin. You can also visit Bruce's blog at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you're online, we'd also be delighted if you'd check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike

Episode #76 - Laurie Potteiger (Mountain Laurel) Mar 01, 2018

Show notes

Laurie 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 more often on the Appalachian Trail. As you can see from the picture below of Laurie in the 100 Mile Wilderness, they can take a lot of stuff!

Laurie is a great proponent of the various initiatives in the ATC and, as you'd imagine, has plenty of information for the interested listener. If you like the idea of doing a Flip Flop of the AT, try the AT Flip Floppers Facebook page. There is plenty of support for prospective hikers who want to help in this effort to maintain the trail for future generations.

If you feel that a Flip Flop isn't for you, why not take part in the A.T. 14 State Challenge. Here, you'll find ideas about accessibility and suggested destinations that you can get to take on the challenge. I think that this is a wonderful idea that will bring the Appalachian Trail to Americans who might not otherwise get the chance to touch this magical piece of real estate.

Laurie has also sent me a link to the AT Expert Advice Facebook page. Here, you'll get "advice that's good for you and good for the Trail." On the subject of what's good for the Trail, why not visit this link, which gives you tips and videos on the Leave No Trace policy. There's also the AT Camp, which is voluntary registration designed to help manage and record which hikers are leaving when. This is a great device to allow you to plan your journey and choose how many people you want to be around in those early days.

If you're ever in the mood for a bit of trail maintaining, Laurie and her husband step up for that as well.

The last two links are her Instagram and Twitter pages.

Our other guest this week is Keith Myrmel. Keith is a mapmaker and he describes his painstaking process by talking about the Superior Hiking Trail. It was tough to get high-enough-definition pictures to show you, but these two sections are pretty good.

One last thing about Laurie Potteiger. Not only did she meet her husband through hiking, they also spent their anniversary in Shenandoah at Stony Man Mountain.

Don't forget to check out my "Merch" store, where you can buy Mighty Blue shirts, mugs, and even phone cases. The link directly to the store is https://www.teepublic.com/stores/mighty-blue-merch?ref_id=5927.

Lastly, we hope that you continue to follow Bruce as he is in the early days in Georgia, at http://returningtokatahdin.libsyn.com

While you're there, hop on over to our sponsor's site, https://www.trailtopia.com.

Episode #75 - Anna Huthmaker (Mud Butt) Feb 22, 2018

Show notes

Anna 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 hikers–curvy or not–grow in many areas over the past few years. Her philosophy is that this club is nothing to do with dieting; it's all about climbing mountains, both literally and figuratively.

If you'd like to learn more about Anna or Trail Dames, there are several places to visit. Start off with the Trail Dames website, then head to their foundation, at tdcharitablefoundation.org. Anna referred to their Trail Dames Summit in the podcast. You can find out about that at TrailDamesSummit.com

If you prefer Facebook or Instagram, they are on those platforms as well.

Curtis Tavares shared his experiences of the Vermont Long Trail, which sounds like a terrific warm-up for a longer hike or simply as an adventure in its own right.

Bruce's blog will be regularly updated while he's on the trail. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you're online, we'd also be delighted if you'd check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.

Episode #74 - Jack Jones (Quadzilla) Feb 15, 2018

Show notes

Jack 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 him the camaraderie with his fellow travelers. The picture below shows Jack with Kelly and their friend, Simba, on the way up Katahdin.

He learned a great deal about diet on the AT and is hoping to use that knowledge in his Arizona Trail and Continental Divide Trail hikes this year (2018).

You can see a short video of Jack's journey on YouTube and read his AT blog at his new site, CouchToTrail.com. If you sign up for his newsletter, you'll get over 100 high quality, full resolution photos of the Appalachian Trail. The photo of Jack at the bottom of these notes is of him at Mt Washington.

Update 2/19: Jack sent me a couple of other links: Instagram and Reddit. Just click on either.

Doctor Lynne returns to the show as Hiker Lynne, with a local Connecticut hike, the Charles Ives Trail her focus. She has shared a great link to a brochure and map for the trail. Just click here. Here she is with her family on the trail.

Bruce's blog is now regularly updated. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you're online, we'd also be delighted if you'd check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.

Episode #73 - Ryan Linn (Guthook) Feb 08, 2018

Show notes

Ryan 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. Starting with the PCT, the business of Guthooks was born. The Appalachian Trail followed and now the company provides map apps for the majority of the famous, and some of the not-so-famous hikes of America. In the meantime, as you can see below, his hair and beard seemed to grow in opposite directions!

Ryan is aware of the intrusion of technology into the solitude of hiking He has thought carefully of the responsibility that his company holds and is trying to develop education and knowledge of hiking through partnerships with well-known stewards of the trail.

You can learn more about Ryan and his company by visiting Atlas Guides, the company website, at http://www.atlasguides.com/

There are also company Facebook and Instagram pages. If you'd like to learn more about Ryan's hikes, you can follow his blog, which pre-dates his apps, at http://www.guthookhikes.com/

We'll soon be saying goodbye to Doctor Lynne, and this week she has some wise words about food and nutrition.

For our sister show, Bruce Matson's blog is now regularly updated. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you're online, we'd also be delighted if you'd check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.

Episode #72 - Paul Magnanti (Paul Mags) Feb 01, 2018

Show notes

Paul 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 outdoors ahead of personal relationships and family, but Paul has been able to do that while getting acceptance of his lifestyle from his family. He is, clearly, very happy with the choices that he has made.

In the intrerview, Paul spoke enthusiastically about his recent adventure across Utah. He mentioned two websites that listeners may wish to visit. Jamal Green has an excellent site, AcrossUtah, with some awesome pictures and videos, while another site by "Amy and James," called DoingMiles, has the same area along with plenty of other outdoor adventures to read about.

You can find Paul in a variety of ways. His website, which is extremely informative, is at PMags.com. He is also on Twitter and Instagram as PMagsco. He recently published a couple of books in the Quick and Dirty Hiking Guides series. If you are looking for the Kindle version, you can find them on Amazon.

Clay Bonnyman Evans' reflections of the Colorado Trail opened Steve's eyes to the possibility that this is (at least in part) a possibility for him in the future.

Don't forget to listen in on our latest adventure in Returning to Katahdin. Bruce is just four weeks out from his departure and Steve and Bruce discuss food, cooking, and water arrangements. Of course, on the subject of food, please make sure that you check out our sponsor's website, Trailtopia.com.

Episode #71 - Matt Philippi (Jersey) Jan 25, 2018

Show notes

Matt 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 hiking the AT in sections.

Matt shared a link to the C&O Canal Towpath. https://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm. If you'd like to know more about this trail, or indeed, section-hiking the Appalachian Trail, email me and Matt will be happy to respond to your questions. As you can see from the waterfall below, it certainly has some great sights.

Matt completed the hike with his work colleague and is as proud of his "summit" picture as I am of my own on Katahdin–as he should be.

Dr Lynne and I discuss arthritis and joints this week on Doc Spot. Don't forget, we're going to be losing Dr Lynne soon because she's run out of trail ailments. On the other hand, if you have some hiking-related medical questions that we haven't covered, she'd be delighted to answer them on a kind of wrap up show.

Don't forget to support our sponsor, Trailtopia and make sure you follow Bruce as he gets closer to his start date in late February. You can find his great show, Returning To Katahdin wherever you listen to podcasts.

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