Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Episodes
Episode #133 - Appalachian Trail (Days One to Three)
01 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Steve is on his way and trying to adjust to his new lifestyle. So far, he has kept to the schedule he gave himself and finished day three in Suches. I...
Episode #132 - Megan Dolman (Giggles) and Mark Bychowski (Pepperjack)
21 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When Megan (from the UK) and Mark (an American) started their respective hikes on March 5, 2018, neither could have imagined how their lives were abou...
Episode #131 - Suzanne Dixon (Irish Fire)
14 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is THE critical component in a healthy trail for hikers, both now and for the future. Suzanne Dixon is the President...
Episode #130 - Paul Maguire (Irish Paul)
07 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As soon as I started speaking with Paul Maguire I knew we'd get on well. He has that cheeky Irish lilt to his voice with a smile just under the surfac...
Episode #129 - Lea Ann Hogan and Lotta Anvret
31 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Another two members of the Mighty Blue Class of 2019 this week. Lea Ann Hogan and Lotta Anvret have given to others all their lives. They are a nurse ...
Episode #128 - Tyler Lau (The Prodigy)
24 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The awesome Tyler Lau is a man on a mission. Not only has he completed a Calendar Year Triple Crown, but he is also working for more diversity on the...
Episode #127 - Randy Forest (PT)
17 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When Randy Forrest reached out to me so that he could tell his own story of hiking the Appalachian Trail as a member of the Class of 2018, I knew stra...
Episode #126 - Dawanna Blue (Sally Forth)
10 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dawanna Blue is a self-confessed high-maintenance hiker. She is a member of the Class of 2018 and her hike was five years in the making. Having arrive...
Episode #125 - Dan Harris (Scars)
03 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Harris spent many years in the CIA, little suspecting that he'd one day use those problem-solving skills to take on a thru-hike of the Appalachian...
Episode #124 - Greg Behrens (GBolt)
27 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One of our sister shows on the Hiking Radio Network, Returning to Katahdin, featured Bruce Matson's successful attempt to fulfill his 44-year dream of...
Episode #123 - Jessie Greger (Pipes)
20 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Choosing what to eat on the trail normally ends in Snickers, ramen noodles, or pasta and rice sides. While these certainly give you instant energy, th...
Episode #122 - Michael Duncan (Crispy)
13 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Duncan completed his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2017. Since the time he touched the brown sign on the top of Katahdin, the sadness ...
Episode #121 - Dave Paumen (CBiscuit)
06 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I interviewed Dave Paumen at 5:30 in the morning as he was about to enter the 100 Mile Wilderness. I was struck by his calm intelligence and his story...
Episode #120 - Nate Stockton (Turd Ferguson)
29 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As I'll be hiking the AT myself in 2019, I won't be able to follow one hiker as closely as I did with Jessa in 2017 and Bruce this year in the Returni...
Episode #119 - Darwin
22 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Darwin is a relatively new thru-hiker, having hit and completed the Appalachian Trail in 2015. Yet his YouTube channel is hugely popular, with over 13...
Episode #118 - Stephanie Lorenze (Sunshine)
15 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For many people, hiking the Appalachian Trail is the culmination of a lifelong dream. There may be issues that they don't want to face, they may be gr...
Episode #117 - Camino De Santiago (Days Thirty-one to Thirty-three)
12 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With just two days and about 32 miles left, Steve and Emma just had to contend with the torrential rain to get to Santiago. While the journey...
Episode #116 - Camino De Santiago (Days Twenty-eight to Thirty)
08 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a tough few days since Steve found out that he'd miscalculated the miles per day required to finish by this Friday. Emma and Steve have step...
Episode #115 - Camino De Santiago (Days Twenty-four to Twenty-seven)
05 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With almost 400 miles to their credit, Emma and Steve can hardly believe the luck they've had with the weather. Even where it has snowed there still s...
Episode #114 - Camino De Santiago (Days Twenty-one to Twenty-three)
01 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With Steve and Emma now firmly choosing to hike and stay at hotels as opposed to auberges, the hunt for bargains is on. Luckily, Steve is ready for th...
Episode #113 - Camino De Santiago (Days Seventeen to Twenty)
29 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The injuries continue but the Meseta is nearly done. Now, with less than 200 miles to go, there is snow on the horizon. We've had beautiful sunrises...
Episode #112 - Camino De Santiago (Days Fourteen to Sixteen)
25 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With about 50 miles for the past three days, Steve and Emma have been making their way through the Meseta, finding gems like the town of Hontanas and ...
Episode #111 - Camino De Santiago (Days Ten to Thirteen)
22 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With a need to up their mileage, Steve has set a target of 15.45 miles a day to get to Santiago. They take regular breaks for coffee and beer on the w...
Episode #110 - Camino De Santiago (Days Seven to Nine)
18 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Emma gets stuck in an elevator, a red squirrel gets way too close for comfort and Steve continues his transformation into Old Father Time. ...
Episode #109 - Camino De Santiago (Days Two to Six)
15 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Our two intrepid adventurers have been on the trail for six days and have fallen a day behind schedule. They have sustained injuries, aches, and pains...
Episode #108 - Camino De Santiago (Days One and Two)
11 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is something of an experimental podcast. We're trying out several ways of doing this so the sound won't be perfect but it should be listenable. S...
Episode #107 - Deanna McGregor (Mary Poppins)
04 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is a kind of crossover episode that keeps many of the "usual" parts of the Mighty Blue show but incorporates and transitions us over to the Camin...
Episode #106 - Tenny Ostrem and Claire Wernstedt-Lynch (Aspen and Eleven)
27 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For Claire and Tenny, hiking the CDT had been an ambition but they soon decided that they needed to do something else. Between the two of them, they h...
Episode #105 - Cindy Ross
20 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As a writer, Cindy Ross must be feeling fulfilled. She has published seven books about hiking and educating in the outdoors. However, it is as a hiker...
Episode #104 - Ben, Kami, Dove, Seven, Eden, Memory, Filia, and Ranier Crawford
13 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The story of the Crawfords has been one of the most prominent Appalachian Trail stories of the year. Their seemingly quixotic adventure didn't seem i...
Episode #103 - Jennifer Pharr Davis (Odyssa)
06 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Pharr Davis is a woman on a mission. She wants to get people into the outdoors and, not only does she want to do it, she actually gets it don...
Episode #102 - Will Ransom (Bear Spray or Ever Changing)
30 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I met Will Ransom at Trail Day in 2017 and was impressed by the bond that he shared with his dog, Rhetta. I'd hoped to interview him for the show but ...
Episode #101 - Pat Coate (Tee Bird)
23 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For the second week, I'm reminiscing with the two people I was closest to on the trail. Last week, Ken Hall closed out the first 100, so the NEXT 100 ...
Episode #100 - Ken Hall (Lighterknot)
16 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For our 100th episode and, indeed, for our 101st, I have two friends with whom I finished the trail. Next week, it will be Pat Coate, or Tee Bird. T...
Episode #99 - Stephanie White (Ultra Runner)
09 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Stephanie White is new to hiking, yet she is already an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker. Her main discipline is the seemingly crazy sport of ultra runnin...
Episode #98 - Tom Kennedy (Doinit)
02 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Kennedy hasn't been a hiker all his life; indeed, he came to it relatively recently. He has found a way to foster his love of hiking and hikers by...
Episode #97 - Cathryn Pugh (Sunshine)
26 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a daunting undertaking for people with no medical issues. For those who rely upon their medication, the AT can be logi...
Episode #96 - Kim Shaffer (Echo)
19 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There are many reasons to want to hike the Appalachian Trail. Few have the history of the trail literally in their blood in the way that Kim Shaffer d...
Episode #95 - Anna and Branden Jones (Sweet Tea and Moose)
12 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Anna Jones wrote to me a few months back to thank me for the various shows and our guests. Anna and Branden were planning a flip-flop, starting in Ma...
Episode #94 - Mike Piatt (Grinder)
05 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Piatt is a LASH, which is an acronym that Mike will explain in the show. He is shortly to complete his third full thru-hike of the Appalachian Tr...
Episode #93 - George Andrews (Tin Man)
28 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
George Andrews has a deep love of hikers and hiking so, when he retired, he wanted to involve himself in the community. He had always been keen to kee...
Episode #92 - Joel "Buddy" Wier III (Nami)
21 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Buddy Wier is something of a late bloomer. He became interested in hiking after his retirement, accumulating gear though not immediately getting out t...
Episode #91 - Linnea Van Manen (Shiver)
14 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Linnea Van Manen struggled with Lyme Disease as a young girl and felt the effects through her teens. Lyme manifested itself by intense bouts of bursit...
Episode #90 - Kayla McCarthy (Popeye)
07 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Kayla McCarthy, her father, and her mother set out to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2014. Only Kayla and her mother reached Katahdin as her father inj...
Episode #89 - Tom Healy (Toasted Toad)
31 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week's guest, Tom Healy, is somebody who I hiked around for a while in 2014. He seemed so comfortable out in the woods that I assumed that he had...
Episode #88 - Eli Best
24 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Eli Best tells me about the journey she took on the Camino De Santiago back in 2004. She had suffered a heart attack and organ failure seve...
Episode #87 - Spencer Leebolt and Blaike Bateman (Pit Boss and Play By Play)
17 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Spencer Leebolt and Blaike Bateman have almost reached the halfway mark on the Appalachian Trail. Spencer is Blaike's stepfather and, although he had ...
Episode #86 - Devan Horn (Shawty)
10 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For a hiking show, Devan Horn wouldn't normally belong. Yet this extraordinary woman, a long-distance runner and rider, chose to hike the Colorado Tra...
Episode #85 - Art Donovan (CraftE)
03 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A member of the Class of 2018, Art Donovan is fulfilling a dream that his mother had 50 years ago. With retirement came the desire to cross the AT off...
Episode #84 - James Smyle (Mayhem)
26 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This weekend, April 28 and 29, the Flip Flop Festival will be held in the adjoining towns of Harpers Ferry and Bolivar, partly to celebrate the beginn...
Episode #83 - Mike Carbonneau (Strummystick)
19 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Carbonneau loves to play music on the trail. He is a section hiker who fell in love with hiking in his 50s. Since then, he has been taking on l...
Episode #82 - Daniel White (The Blackalachian)
12 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel White is something of a rarity on the Appalachian Trail. Black people are unrepresented on hiking trails and Daniel provides us with, perhaps, ...
Episode #81 - Ben Montgomery
05 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With so many future histories being made right now on the Appalachian Trail, Ben Montgomery brings us the story behind the story of Grandma Gatewood. ...
Episode #80 - Ben Barbante (Juan Durer)
29 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode #79 - Maria Wishart (Wheezy Pee)
22 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
Episode #78 - Curt Ebert (Disciple)
15 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode #77 - Bill King (Field Trip)
08 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 teach...
Episode #76 - Laurie Potteiger (Mountain Laurel)
01 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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, Lau...
Episode #75 - Anna Huthmaker (Mud Butt)
22 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
Episode #74 - Jack Jones (Quadzilla)
15 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Episode #73 - Ryan Linn (Guthook)
08 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 co...
Episode #72 - Paul Magnanti (Paul Mags)
01 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode #71 - Matt Philippi (Jersey)
25 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 co...
Episode #70 - Jack Masters (Vagabond Jack)
18 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jack Masters is a member of the Class of 2018. While he's been interested in the possibility of hiking the appalachian Trail, a year ago it didn't see...
Episode #69 - JD and Amanda Anttonen (Yak and Walks With Fire)
11 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I met JD Anttonen on the Appalachian Trail in 2014 and, as one often did, we shared the odd meal in a shelter and ran into one another from time to ti...
Episode #68 - Damien and Renee Tougas (The Von Trapp Family)
04 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Damien and Renee Tougas have always made sure that their children were able to experience the outdoors. So it seemed a fairly natural fit to take the...
Episode #67 - Nate and Sharon Harrington (The Hiking Vikings)
28 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We first met Nate and Sharon at Trail Days in Damascus earlier in 2017. I was initially fascinated by the signs of Katahdin that Nate was selling, but...
Episode #66 - Zach Davis (Badger)
20 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Zach Davis didn't hike a long-distance trail until 2011, yet he was intuitively aware of the need to prepare himself mentally for the hike. Establishi...
Episode #65 - Julie Gayheart (Jester)
14 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Julie Gayheart is a very active section hiker, having completed a 12-year thru-hike in 2017, while within 800 miles of a second thru-hike spread over ...
Episode #64 - Jim Kern
07 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Jim Kern, a veteran of the hiking world, yet on a mission to CLOSE THE GAPS on America's trails. He has hiked all over the world, yet his passion...
Episode #63 - Kyle Rohrig (The Mayor)
30 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Kyle Rohrig was one of the first people I wanted to interview on my podcast, so it is somehow fitting that it has taken me more than 60 episodes to...
Episode #62 - Jessica Mills (Dixie)
23 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica Mills has become something of a YouTube sensation, with her Appalachian Trail videos securing a base of support during her 2015 thru-hike. ...
Episode #61 - Judy Mikesell
16 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail isn't everybody's idea of the best way to spend time in the woods. Judy Mikesell became interested in the trai...
Episode #60 - Stacey Bucklin (Stylez)
09 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with my class of 2014 again. This week, we have another of those powerful, independent women, Stacey Bucklin, or Stylez. Stacey had wanted to...
Episode #59 - Silas Schroeder (Pepper)
02 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Appalachian Trail is a test for hikers at any stage in life and many people hike their own hikes vicariously through their family members. One ...
Episode #58 - Jeffrey Gray (Loner)
26 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
From the Class of 2012, this week's guest is Jeffrey "Loner" Gray. Jeffrey gave himself the name Loner, yet he soon discovered the extraordinary fr...
Episode #57 - Derrick, Bekah, and Ellie Quirin (Sherpa, Kanga, and Roo)
19 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
You probably read about the couple who decided to attempt a thru-hike this summer with their 12-month old daughter, Ellie. I was skeptical myself ...
Episode #56 - Jay Parker (Beans)
12 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
I met Beans in my first couple of days on the trail. We shared a particularly funny evening in a bar in North Carolina and I found him to be a very...
Episode #55 - Greg and Jen Seymour (Sunsets and Chica)
05 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Having lived for several years in Costa Rica, Greg and Jen Seymour were searching for an adventure. They chose a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in...
Episode #54 - The Catch-Up Show (Tough Girl, BC, and Kickstarter)
28 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We've followed several hikers this year, with Jessa covered pretty much the whole of the way. For this week's show, I decided to find out what had hap...
Episode #53 - Jeff Alt (Wrong Foot)
21 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
When Jeff Alt set out to fulfil a long-held dream and hike the Appalachian Trail in 1998, he could have had no idea that his walk would eventually bec...
Episode #52 - Jessa Hackman (Attie)
14 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
For our 52nd episode–which commemorates the fact that we've been podcasting for precisely a year–I caught up with Jessa Hackman, otherwise know...
Episode #51 - Daryl Fleischer (Road Trip)
07 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Daryl Fleischer is aware that his thru-hike, hopefully with his lovely wife, is several years in his future. He has work and family responsibilitie...
Episode #50 - Mike Skelton (Bearded Skelton)
31 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Skelton is another listener who wrote into the show and immediately intrigued me. I'd asked for a few examples of the transformative nature of...
Episode #49 - Lynne Savino (Caboose)
24 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lynne Savino wrote to me and gave me some funny examples of the differences between a section hiker and a thru-hiker. I have a lot of respect for sect...
Episode #48 - Edwin Thullen (Bear)
17 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
When Edwin Thullen decided to hike the Appalachian Trail he had several challenges to overcome. His sheer size made gear acquisition a formidable proc...
Episode #47 - Bethany Varner (Snap)
10 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Bethany Varner completed her hike on July 1 this year. She had zero overnight backpacking experience, yet she adapted so well to the challenge that sh...
Episode #46 - Robby and Meredith King (Doc and Tunes)
03 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
When Robby King and his daughter, Meredith decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, his wife Nancy decided that she could support them far better by dri...
Episode #45 - Tim McGann (Tadhg)
27 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week's guest is another from the Class of 2014; Tim McGann, or Tadhg. He shares his story with us and provides the perfect example of how the tra...
Episode #44 - Jan Leitschuh (Liteshoe)
20 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jan Leitschuh, at the time more comfortable on a horse than hiking through the woods, found herself contemplating a thru-hike of the Appalachian Tr...
Episode #43 - Chrissy Funk (C-Funk)
13 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Chrissy is a woman who came to the trail in search of herself. She had endured a difficult personal life and fallen out of love with the person she ha...
Episode #42 - David DeGregorio (Digger)
06 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Digger was one of the guys I met during my 2014 journey and, as often happened, this short acquaintance proved to assist me in my own hike. Once he'd ...
Episode #41 - Craig McPherson (Spielberg)
29 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
I was introduced to Craig McPherson by a listener. He sent me a link to Craig's final video, one that served to represent a summary of his hike of the...
Episode #40 - Kelly Anderson (Sleeping Beauty)
22 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly Anderson is a former professional tennis player from South Africa. She came to the US to attend Georgia Tech in their tennis program before taki...
Episode #39 - Trail Days (Part Two)
15 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, I've got another diverse array of guests from Trail Days in Damascus a few weeks ago. While I guess a parade of hikers could have been inte...
Episode #38 - Kyle Bock (Kickstarter)
08 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Kyle Bock has had some dark days, not least because he lived in Alaska for over fifteen years with no running water and, for the past few years, w...
Episode #37 - Trail Days (Part One)
01 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A trip to Trail Days wasn't on my itinerary when I hiked the AT in 2014, so my visit this year had a dual purpose. I was going there to both see what ...
Episode #36 - Sarah Williams (Tough Girl Challenges)
25 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Williams is a true force of nature. Her goal is to inspire women and girls to think beyond the boundaries of their previously limited lives, and...
Episode #35 - Byron Church (BC)
18 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Byron Church has had his sights set on the Appalachian Trail since he read Bill Bryson's book in High School, nearly two decades ago. Section by se...
Episode #34 - John Vonhof (The Foot Guy)
11 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
John Vonhof should be everybody's best friend. For years, he has been tending the feet of the people who most abuse them—hikers and runners. His e...