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

Matthew Hengst, or Masochist, is today's guest. He is one of those guys who has managed to parlay his passion for hiking into pretty much a full-time gig. He's got an extensive outdoor resumé, but it is his 2021 thru-hike of the Eastern Continental Trail that we focus on today. On the trail, Matthew edited videos before getting out of camp, and his whole attitude is one of calm enjoyment in solitude. You can follow him on his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes, or his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mattonamtn. He also has a website that encompasses all of his varied outdoor adventures. You can find that at http://www.firstchurchofthemasochist.com/. Two of our Class of 23 members check in today. Ron Ward will be setting out on March 23 from Springer and is, as you'd expect, raring to go. He shares with us that he's hiking for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and has a fund raising page here. Check it out if his cause speaks to you. https://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR;jsessionid=00000000.app30108b?px=3424783&fr_id=8890&pg=personal&NONCE_TOKEN=29FF65E0FAFBA5F2BA2DE60BADE3B502 Mark Carpenter started three weeks ago and is having an absolute blast, encountering cold wet weather but smiling through. Doctor Lynne concludes her part in the show for the time being, when she talks to us about the way in which lightning impacts hikers and the medical points we all need to know. Lynne is such a blessing to the show and we've really loved having her input for the past few months. Remember, you can get all her notes through this link. 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 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.

Our guests today are a husband and wife couple who worked out their own way to share the Appalachian Trail experience, even though only one of them walked the full 2200 miles. Mike and Marla Hansen used their RV to assist Mike's hike, working out a routine that would be attractive to many, I'm sure. Marla did a lot of the resupply, as well as hiking into some of the iconic spots on the trail and supported Mike's dream throughout. Their method is a way of sharing the journey that certainly worked for them and would make a great blueprint for couples with different goals about long distance hiking. You can follow their journey on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/blazedog72/ Two of our Class of 23 members are heading out this week. Both Betty McEnaney and Erin Conrad (along with her Mom), are hitting the trail as their dreams come to fruition in the next couple of days. We wish them both Happy Trails!! Doctor Lynne is coming to the end of her segment of the show, but we'd like to offer listeners the opportunity to ask her medical questions directly. Just click on the microphone icon at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/ and you can record a message of up to two minutes, which I'll play on the show for Lynne to respond. 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.

We have a true one-of-a-kind story today. Mel Vogel set out to hike the Trans Canada Trail in June 2017. Even when part of the trail was closed for recreational use during Covid, Mel remained on or near the trail in the Yukon, eventually completing it in November 2022. During her hike, Mel touched the Atlantic, Pacific, and even the Arctic Ocean, finding kindness and friends along the way, as well as her new friend, Malo, a lost dog. Mel and Steve share a personal conversation that touches nerves and reveals a strength of character within Mel. You can learn more about Mel and her remarkable journey at the following links: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-walking-trans-canada-trail/ https://tctrail.ca/news/melanie-vogel/ https://torontolife.com/memoir/three-years-ago-i-left-toronto-to-walk-across-canada-now-im-riding-out-the-pandemic-in-an-arctic-community-of-nine-people/ Our Class of 2023 is starting to hit the trail, one by one. This week, we catch up with three of them. Chuck Faulkinberry has to share some difficult news, Jessica Lang-Wright is having problems keeping warm at night (check the picture below), and Sonny Blackwell is racking up milestones along the way. Our Woods Hole Weekend Video Series is now available for purchase. With over 13 hours of solid content, with tips, tricks, hacks, and advice, our presenters prepared our guests for their own AT thru-hike. You can check out the trailer and various subjects covered at the link below: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/p/woods-hole-weekend/ For the next week only (closing at midnight on March 15th), there is a discount of $100 for early purchasers. If you've invested your time and money in your thru-hike, you should consider this series as a critical investment, from people who have all completed thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail. 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.

When Charlie Janssen was just ten miles into his Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2012, he wondered what it would be like to complete a Calendar Year Triple Crown. He found out in 2022, and shares his story with us. Charlie's thoughts eventually solidified and the planning began. His pragmatic approach and never-give-up attitude are clear in our conversation, yet this is still an epic adventure and one that so few people have managed to complete. Charlie is only the thirteenth to complete it. He has so many links to follow if you'd like to dive further into his remarkable achievement. Here's the list: Backpacker Magazine-https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/meet-the-high-school-teacher-who-finished-the-entire-triple-crown-in-a-calendar-year/ Kansas City NPR-https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2022-11-25/a-kansas-city-native-conquered-the-countrys-longest-trails-and-earned-hikings-triple-crown Action News Now-https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/chico-hiker-conquers-7-500-mile-calendar-year-triple-crown/article_fa2a0d60-96d3-11ed-866d-db2e785a2b17.html John Freakin' Muir Podcast-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgeyJhACgpY Vail Daily-https://www.vaildaily.com/sports/janssens-journey-eagle-valley-cross-country-coach-is-attempting-trail-triple-crown/ Vail Daily-https://www.vaildaily.com/sports/janssen-hits-snow-on-appalachian-trail/ Vail Daily-https://www.vaildaily.com/sports/janssen-completes-pacific-crest-trail/ Vail Daily-https://www.vaildaily.com/news/charlie-janssen-completes-7412-mile-calendar-year-trail-triple-crown/ Vail Daily-https://www.vaildaily.com/sports/the-top-5-local-sports-stories-of-2022/ County 10 News, Lander, WY-https://county10.com/distance-hiker-who-passed-through-lander-completes-calendar-year-triple-crown-hiked-appalachian-pacific-crest-continental-divide-trails/ Active NorCal-https://www.activenorcal.com/chico-hiker-completes-coveted-7500-mile-triple-crown-in-one-calendar-year/ Pitt State Magazine-https://www.pittstate.edu/gorillaconnection/2022/01/grads-goal-hike-nations-three-longest-trails-in-365-days.html Pitt State Magazine-https://www.pittstate.edu/gorillaconnection/2022/11/grad-completes-calendar-year-triple-crown.html Black Hills Pioneer-https://www.bhpioneer.com/local_news/former-bhsu-athlete-completes-calendar-year-triple-crown/article_a8eecf5a-7d9a-11ed-ac0f-07d33e6519f7.html Hays Post-https://www.hdnews.net/2022/02/05/blazing-a-trail/ Four States Homepage-https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/local-news/psu-alum-attempts-to-hike-the-triple-crown-in-one-calendar-year/ Our Mighty Blue Class of 2023 is now fully fleshed out. It's only the hike that needs to be completed now!! This week, we catch up with Mark Carpenter, who begins next week, while Carl Bergquist will be on the trail, at Amicalola Falls, while many of you are listening to the show on Thursday morning. Doctor Lynne gives us chapter and verse on dealing with the dreaded blister when you're out there. Don't forget, you can download a short document on any of the topics that Lynne has discussed in this series on the show by clicking on the link below. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CJ5llgK7FUnbKnbtbWlsP6v_4dNentVa?usp=sharing Two reminders this week. First, you can join me LIVE tonight (March 2) on Jester's Section Hiker podcast for an exciting announcement. Just click on the link below as we go on air. https://youtube.com/live/Q88Nmojeo_w Second, if any of you are in the vicinity of Amicalola Falls State Park this coming weekend, March 5, you can see me present at the AT Kick Off at 10:30 Sunday morning. My subject is “The Adventure of a Lifetime.” 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.

Leah Harman, or Twig, is our guest today. She is a self-confessed nomad, concentrating in the past few years on backpacking her way through many trails, both in the US and abroad. Despite the solitary nature of many of her hikes, Leah enjoys the trail community and Trail Angels in particular. You can check out Leah's many hikes in her excellent blog at https://twigadventures.com/ Mary Marks becomes the final member of our Mighty Blue Class of 2023, and we speak from Franklin, NC, where she is already on trail with her beautiful hiking companion, Wiley. Is Wiley a poser, or not!!?? Doctor Lynne talks to us about the prevalence of Lyme Disease, how to spot, and what to do about it. Remember, you can download her notes on any of the subjects she has shared in this short series by clicking on this link. 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 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.  

I found this week's guest by reading an article he'd written about Post-Trail Depression. I know some people scoff at this concept, but it is real, and Casey Beeman articulates it beautifully. He did his thru-hike, along with his wife, Kylie, last year. They enjoyed the freedom to have a big adventure, but coming down to earth at the end turned out to be problematic, especially for Casey. I asked him to read the article during our conversation, which he duly did, and I think it adds power to the piece by the simple fact of him reading it. Our MB Class of 23 is boosted by just one new member today. Jessica Lang-Wright was one of our first class members but, for reasons you'll hear today, it is only now that she can be on the show. Welcome Jessica. You can follow her through her Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@bluehairedhiker, and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bluehairedhiker/. Doctor Lynne has had to miss this week, but will return next week with her views on Lyme Disease. 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.

Emet Baker, or Quickbeam is our guest today. He was able to complete his first year college finals before heading out on trail last year, with a mission to accomplish and complete the trail before he needed to return to camp. Emet was suggested to me by a previous guest, who wrote such kind words about him, that I wondered if they were hyperbole. They weren't. He's an impressive young man with, I'm sure, a great future, both in hiking and pretty much whatever he turns his hand to. You'll be impressed by him as well. You can follow Emet on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/quickbeamwalks/ and, a first for the podcast, on Reddit at https://www.reddit.com/user/Grati_Mortui/. Our Class of 23 is adding another new member this week, as well as revisiting an earlier member. Bryan Robbins plans to head out in April after retiring from his career, while Steve Kortekamp has a new partner to share the trail with. Here's Bryan. and here's Steve and Brooke. Doctor Lynne feeds our souls today with a chat about nutrition, though I was mainly interested in the undoubted benefits of Snickers on the trail. Happy Days. Remember, you can get ALL of Doctor Lynne's notes at this Google Drive link. 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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'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.

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'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 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.

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. 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.

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'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.

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'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. 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.

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'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. 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.

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'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. 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.

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'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. 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.

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/. 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. 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.

Today's guest, Lauren Adamczak, described herself as "the quiet 30-year-old that never spoke up in groups, often looked down at the ground in public, and wouldn't dare leave the house in mismatched clothes." Four days into the trail, she accepted–with glee–the trail name, Airbag. When I read a post she made on Facebook, I knew I wanted her on the show. Lauren didn't make it to the brown sign on Katahdin, but she had an adventure that energized and enhanced her life, taking on "Airbag" with such positivity that I wondered through our conversation whether it was Lauren or Airbag with whom I was talking. You can follow Lauren on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lauren.the.airbag/ Steve Kortekamp is our third member of the Mighty Blue Class of 2023. Steve is a retired firefighter, and first saw the trail in the 60s, on Clingman's Dome, with his father. He'll be carrying the picture from that day (below) with him as he hikes the trail next year. 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. 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.

Stuart Phelps, or Puppy Love, is our guest this week. Stuart had set himself a goal to thru-hike the trail when he turned 50, yet, as often happens, the window opened a little earlier and he set out in 2021, turning 48 on the trail. His story is a mixture of fun, mutual respect, love, and illness, and makes for a fascinating conversation. Wait until you hear how his first date with his girlfriend went!! You can follow Stuart's blog at https://stuhikes.com/blog/, and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stuphelps/. This week's member of the Mighty Blue Class of 2023 features Betty McEnaney. Betty was a trail angel for our own Katie Westling last year and they took this selfie together. 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. 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.

Today's show features a recently successful thru-hiker, and the first of our Mighty Blue Class of 2023. Syd Sayward has wanted to complete the AT since, as a 15-year-old, her athletics coach took her and some school friends up Mt. Washington. The experience stayed with Syd, and she started preparing for what she knew would be an AT attempt at some future date. That turned out to be 2022, and Syd shares her story. Syd kept a blog while she was out on the trail. You can check it out here. https://sydoutside.wordpress.com/ Erin Conrad wrote a long email to me to share her backstory regarding her own upcoming AT thru-hike, and she is the first member of our Mighty Blue Class of 2022. Oh yes, and she's taking her Mom with her!! 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. 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.

Today's guest was a guest on the show at the beginning of 2021, sharing his stories about his PCT thru-hike. He never expected to go again–even though his wife always knew that he would–but there's something about the Appalachian Trail that was drawing him in. He didn't know what it was, but he discovered his "why?" on the trail. Mike, as an ex-military man, is an extremely detailed planner. He shares much of his planning and actual hikes at his YouTube channel, Old Man and the AT, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUjqg7BI_TE-D_O45GapBzw Three particular videos outline his process. For Mental Preparation, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWhzYl2zyNY&list=PLymdJYfEjLcPtz0KreGQl7BkNnMV4Z-Z6&index=6 For Physical Preparation, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWhzYl2zyNY&list=PLymdJYfEjLcPtz0KreGQl7BkNnMV4Z-Z6&index=6 and for Weight Matters, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPQ0oEf0_rQ&list=PLymdJYfEjLcPtz0KreGQl7BkNnMV4Z-Z6&index=8 We were unable to bring you the Two Jenns from the Maine Roadhouse last week, but we worked it out this week, so they are on to share with you all about their new life as hostel owners in Maine. You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheMaineRoadhouse and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/themaineroadhouse/   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. 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.

Today's guest recently completed her AT thru-hike and, joyous as she is, she and Steve get into a conversation that celebrates the joy, but also delves into some of the more difficult, but ultimately triumphant, aspects of her journey and life. Tonya shares her faith with us and the important role it played in her ability to get to the end of her hike. You can follow more of Tonya's journey(S) on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/c/travelingwithtonya on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/travelingwithtonya and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/travelingwithtonya 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. 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.

Dr Kristi McLeod Fondren joins us today to bring an academic's view on hiking. Kristi hiked the PCT over the last couple of years and has combined that love of the outdoors with her work as a Professor at Marshall University. She has some great insights that she shares with us, as well as her deeply personal story. You can find out more about Kristi from her two journals from 2021 and 2022. They are at http://www.trailjournals.com/HQtieandTurkeyB for the 2021 hike and at http://www.trailjournals.com/HQtie for the 2022 hike She also referred to the First Descents Program, which you can learn about at http://www.firstdescents.org And the book that she published of her dissertation is at https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/walking-on-the-wild-side/9780813571881 Also on today was Rebecca James who, along with her son Brad, owns the Burke's Garden Hostel. You can check that out at https://www.burkesgardenhostel.com/, though, check out this glorious drone pic of their place. Beautiful. 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. 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.

Today's guest, Andy Hood, isn't a hiker. He's a runner, but the story of his recent journey parallels that of many long-distance hikers. It is his backstory that attracted my attention, as well as offering me a chance to introduce you all to a different hiking trail; in England, no less!! Andy talks movingly about wanting to do something to empathize with his mother's plight and, in going so, he finds out much about himself and others. He also tells us about an often overlooked part of self-care. You can find out more about Andy and his journey on his blog at http://www.runningwestwardho.co.uk/. He also posted on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/runningwestwardho. If you'd like to learn more about the path itself as a potential hike, go to http://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/. And, of course, to learn more about self-care for guys, head to http://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/testicular-cancer/how-to-check. A last minute guest this week, in our hostels section, was Dave, from Mountain Harbour Bed & Breakfast, in Roan Mountain. You can find out more about this top-notch hostel at their excellent website, at https://www.mountainharbour.info/. 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 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.

We have another recent thru-hiker today. He is Hunter Rud and, when you hear his story, the Appalachian Trail wasn't on his radar until very recently. But, like many others before him, he became more absorbed by the prospect of hiking it the more he researched. It wasn't all sunshine and roses for Hunter when he was out there this year, yet the support and encouragement he received from his entire family–including the latest weather forecasts from his uncle–got him to his Katahdin moment. You'll be impressed by him, as I was. You can check out a couple of his pictures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hunterrud3/ A new mid-section of the show for October will focus on hostels along the trail. This week, my friend, Dianne Seger, or Lady Di, talks to me about her decision to start a hostel in Damascus after her 2019 thru-hike. Her website is at https://www.ladydibnb.com/ 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. 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.

Julieann Hartley is today's guest. She hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2015 and transformed her life. She articulates this so beautifully in our conversation, and you may be a little confused about why we laugh so much while discussing difficult topics. Yet her positivity is what pulled her through both the hike and her subsequent life. Check her out at Instagram and TikTok, and even on Spotify at the links below. https://www.instagram.com/missjulieannmusic/ https://www.tiktok.com/@missjulieannmusic https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ckQrLoxKGRGQ5AfPPMflf We also hear how Dan Whitesides, or Trumpet, ended his AT hike with FrankE, his faithful companion. 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. 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.

This week, we have the second and concluding part of my recent 75 mile TSX Challenge hike in California, taking in Mt Whitney as its main highlight. As many of you know, I've often spoken of my inability to hike at altitude. In this hike, I discovered that it was more about my attitude than the altitude. We covered the first three days of the hike last week. Today, we've got contributions from other hikers, as well as my own experience of those last five days. It was epic!! You can learn more about this and other hikes at https://tsxchallenge.com/ If you're interested in coming to our upcoming Woods Hole Weekend in early October, check out the Woods Hole site at https://woodsholehostel.com/things-to-do/the-woods-hole-weekend/ and read about what we'll be covering over those three days. 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.

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 hike in such a wilderness and, on my return, I was eager to share it with you all. I rarely start editing until the day before my podcast is due to be published, but I've been thinking about this one for the past three days and trying to marshal my thoughts as best I can. What you'll hear are my honest reflections of the hike as well as input from most of my fellow hikers. I'm not trying to sell you on whether or not you should try one of these hikes; I'm just putting my thoughts out to you and sharing my experience with you. Take it as you will. You can learn more about this and other hikes at https://tsxchallenge.com/  If you're interested in coming to our upcoming Woods Hole Weekend in early October, check out the Woods Hole site at woodsholehostel.com and read about what we'll be covering over those three days. 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. 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.

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 Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Since then, he has racked up a bunch more miles and trails, so we caught up before I headed to hike in California. As always, Clay is witty, thoughtful, and open as we chat about his hiking. He is also an excellent writer, so you can check out his latest book "Adrift on the Pacific Crest Trail: A Thru-Hiking Story" at this link. We discuss what he means by "adrift," and he gives insight to the necessary separation that a thru-hike will cause in relationships. He has more books to check out, on his website, claybonnymanevans.com, and he has offered his email should you want to contact him about anything to do with hiking the great trails of America. You can reach him at claybonnyman@gmail.com. We catch up with Dan Whitesides, our last remaining Mighty Blue Class of 22 participant. As always, he's smiling through. If you're interested in coming to our upcoming Woods Hole Weekend in early October, check out the Woods Hole site at woodsholehostel.com and read about what we'll be covering over those three days. 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. 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.

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 guests on the show. He produced a documentary movie–Walking Home–that followed the hike of a father and son duo, along with two other characters who intermittently entered the story. But Ryan has always been a thrill seeker, and he shares his fascinating story of climbing Katahdin in the winter, a negotiating Knife's Edge with a reluctant friend, and spending time working on a nineteenth century whaling ship. You'll really enjoy meeting him. As we said on the show, the documentary is free and available on YouTube, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4TWPbBlf70. It is so good and I hope that, if you haven't seen it, you give it a look. Our Mighty Blue Class of 2022 has been drastically reduced over the summer, and we lost another member this week. Dom Tammaro sustained a hike-ending injury that made him reluctantly quit his journey for the time being. He intends to get back on the trail next year. Our free-wheeling young member of the group, Dan Whitesides, or Trumpet, and his dog, FrankE, have had a fairly drama-free time–until this week, that is. Hear what's happened to Dan. 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. 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.

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 Dad recorded that fact. I reached out to him and eventually spoke with Kelly. For me, her demographic, of a mid-30s female, was under-represented on the trail in past years, but I've noticed it growing in recent years. I wanted to talk with her about that. You can follow Kelly on her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/UnboundCrow Today, we also speak with Katie Westling at the end of her successful hike of the Appalachian Trail. She hiked with a buddy of mine, Hugh Ickrath, from her last shelter, then met her family at the finish. Here is a picture that Hugh took of Katie with her daughter and her grandson as she "crossed the line" at the end. Marvelous!! Also today, an announcement of another podcast on the network. Paul Collins introduces the Hammock Hangers Podcast. I hope you give it a try. You can find it at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/, along with all our other great shows. 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. 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.

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 finish on his birthday. Being a precise, mission-driven military man, that's exactly what Ted did. He shares his story with us. He met people he wouldn't normally come across when he was out on the trail and delighted learning from all of them. He didn't always enjoy the hike, but he took something positive from it every day. At Katahdin, Ted was lucky enough to be joined by two of his daughters and achieve that epic summit with them. What a glorious moment that must have been. Also today, we catch up with Dan Whitesides and Katie Westling, both close to the end of their own epic journeys. Two things I mention on the show. 1. The Woods Hole Weekend, which is being held on October 6-9 at the iconic Woods Hole Hostel. Details of the weekend can be found on the Woods Hole website, at https://woodsholehostel.com/. I've only just sent the details to Neville and her team, so it should be there sometime today (Thursday). 2. If you'd like to take the last spot on Chris Casado's TSX Challenge, hiking with Chris, me, a couple of our listeners plus a bunch of great companions, email Chris at chris@tsxchallenge.com. I hope to see one of you out there. 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. 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.

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 completing half of the PCT last year before she was forced to get off trail because of the fires. In between, she managed to fit in a bikepacking trip on the Great Divide Trail. But Monica's passion for adventure triggered another, more creative side of her. She started to draw and paint in her journal to record the sights she was seeing. When she returned home, she parlayed that hobby into a business. If you'd like to check out some of Monica's work, go to her website, http://www.chasingtrailsart.com/ or her Instagram page at http://www.instagram.com/chasingtrailsart. She also runs a podcast, which you can hear at https://shitoutdoorspod.com/   Katie and Sarah, so close to the end of their respective journeys, are back on the show this week. They share their experiences of the past week. 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. 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.

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 story. Just two years ago, he suffered a cardiac arrest in his sleep. It was only the rapid response of his wife that saved his life. Yet Nathan had long wanted to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail and he resolved to get it done. He resumed his training AFTER open heart surgery and, since then, has racked up over 7800 training miles. With the help of his son, Derek, he put together a completely supported hike, with Derek meeting him every day at road crossings, logging roads etc.   He even got off trail for several days when he fell on Moosilauke and injured his face (pictured below). Nathan's resilience is remarkable, and he wanted to tell his story to prove that, with a lot of determination, and a bit of luck, you can overcome most things in life. Katie and Sarah are getting to the end of their respective hikes, so we caught up with them both and will check in on them both as they approach the finish. 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. 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.

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, becoming the first woman to do so. She's not a super-honed athlete, she's a down-to-earth woman who knows her strengths and limitations, and hikes accordingly. When she's not hiking these long-distance trails, Arlette leads hikes in New Hampshire and has shared with us the epic photo below. If you'd like to connect with Arlette, you can check out her Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/arlette_laan/ We hear from two of our Mighty Blue Class of 22. This week, Dom Tammaro and Dan Whitesides have progress and pictures to report.   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 Thanks also to Emanuel Bravo-Ramos for sending me this handmade hat to wear in the Sierras next month. Pretty classy, eh??!! 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. 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.

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 separately hiked the AT before meeting one another at Trail Days. They have experienced the trail differently, so their book is a product and amalgamation of those experiences. It is a true coffee-table book that you can pick up and open anywhere; there'll always be something of interest to read, or to see. If you'd like to learn more about them and their book, you can find them on these sites. http://Www.discoveringtheat.com http://Www.joshuaniven.com http://Www.AmberAdamsNiven.com Also, if you're in the vicinity of Hot Springs on August 13, why not drop into Big Pillow Brewing to meet them at the official launch of their book? http://www.thru-at.com/events/launch%20party One of the members of our Class of 22 still heading north, Sarah "Sunny" Landis, has reached Vermont and continues to have a blast. We caught up with her at Manchester Center on a zero day. Katie Westling was on MacAfee Knob when I called her. Check out the photo she'll be looking at for the rest of her life. Epic!! George Steffanos has really been putting himself through it and, just when he was on the verge of quitting, he found the best medicine. 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. 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.

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 also has terrific stories to share about them. Like me, she has completed two Appalachian Trail thru-hikes and has now written about the first one. She also produced a children's book that will introduce a whole new generation to the trail. Additionally, Emily was featured quite prominently in the AT documentary, Walking Home. You can check that out here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4TWPbBlf70 If you'd like to learn more about Emily and her adventures, or buy her books, visit her website at https://www.emilysescapades.com/. You can also see all her books on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Emily-M-Leonard/e/B08JMCXGL3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1656540614&sr=8-1 Follow Emily on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/emilysescapades/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Emily-M-Leonard-109205634573859 Also this week, we caught up with Dom Tammaro from the Mighty Blue Class of 2022. He has just finished the Virginia Triple Crown and sent me his pic at the iconic MacAfee Knob (below). And Katie Westling is approaching that Triple Crown. We heard from her as she was on her way to Pearisburg. Perhaps next week we'll have her MacAfee Knob pic. I also heard from George Steffanos this week, with the exciting news that he has documented his own 1983 AT thru-hike in pictures. I'll continue to share his website below but, in case you missed it, check out his awesome scanned slides from 40 years ago. You WON'T be disappointed. https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/places-i-ve-been 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. 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.

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 daughter. As often happens, those plans changed, and they headed north together as a team. Each learned something about the other, with their familial bond strengthened along the way. You can follow Nugs on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kayla.bold/ Our two catch-ups this week are with Trumpet and his dog FrankE, as well as with Katie Westling, who is filling in the miles she missed in her thru-hike attempt last year. I mentioned our other shows on the podcast today, so here are the links you'll need to find each of them going forward. Mighty Blue: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/mighty-blue-on-the-appalachian-trail-the-ultimate-mid-life-c/ Trail Dames: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/the-trail-dames-podcast/ Jester Section Hiker: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/jester-section-hiker/ Hiking Unfiltered: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/hiking-unfiltered/ Returning to Katahdin: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/returning-to-katahdin-an-appalachian-trail-dream/ JR Hikes the Appalachian Trail: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/jr-hikes-the-appalachian-trail/ Dixie LIVE on the Continental Dive Trail: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/dixie-live-on-the-continental-divide-trail/ 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. 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.

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 should move to Alabama. As Jeff says, "Why not Alabama?" Then, Jeff and Nathan Wright debate the issue as they see it. They keep it respectful and agree far more than they disagree. At the end, I weigh in with my opinion. I hope you all learn something from this discussion. You can learn more about the issues at stake by visiting Jeff's site, where he promotes building an entirely new trail. It is at https://www.at2al.net/ Jeff also offers the following site, which argues for using existing trails. That is at https://at2al.com/ You can find Jeff's hostel at https://www.nextstephostel.net/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NextStepHostel/ In between Jeff's chat with me and the subsequent debate, I caught up with Katie Westling, as she has now returned to the AT to continue her quest to complete her thru-hike. 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. 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.

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 a thousand miles and there is very little in the way of a defined path. The West Highland Way WAS a path that made it a little easier for them and that's where I found them. What's remarkable about these two, though, is that both Ian and his daughter are autistic. Ian and his wife Sarah have determined that they don't intend for Eve to be handicapped by autism, so they are giving her an adventure that, in itself, is spawning other ideas for further adventures. You can check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ourspectrumadventures If you'd like to offer some support, you can do so here. https://www.gofundme.com/f/eve-and-ian-john-o-groats-to-lands-end                 Dom Tamarro has taken a few days off the trail to return home for a graduation, yet he's now past 500 miles and loving it. By the time you listen to today's show, he'll be back at it. 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. 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.

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 way in which things just "happen" out there on the trail. He has a well-grounded, gentle wisdom, some of which he learned on the trail, though much of it he clearly accumulated over his 60 years. His cousin had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and, not knowing much about this, he learned what he could and shared it on the trail. If you'd like to read Dennis's journal, you can find it at https://www.trailjournals.com/journal/24090 You can also follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Hikingforlewy If you'd like to learn more about Lewy Body Dementia, check out these two links: https://www.lbda.org/ and https://dementiaspotlightfoundation.org Our Mighty Blue Class of 2022 is thinning out fairly rapidly, and this week, we hear the diverging fortunes of Sarah Landis and Brittaney Allvord. 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. 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.

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 turns out that she also thru-hiked the AT in 2021, having been "Covided" off in 2020. Naturally, I wanted her to tell her story, and she agreed to come on the show. As you'll hear, she is a pragmatic woman, making sensible decisions when decisions are required. If you'd like to learn more about Natisha and her hiking, and van, life, check out her Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/calypso_chronicles/. Additionally, you can check out at her YouTube page at https://youtube.com/user/uglybarnicle We caught up with two of our Class of 2022 this week, neither of whom is actually on the trail right now! Katie Westling, who we followed in 2021, is heading back to the Appalachian Trail in early June to complete the last 500 or so miles of her hike. She tells us her plans. 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. 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.

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 benefits–or otherwise–of relocating the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail to Alabama, using the Pinhoti Trail to effect that change. This is a controversial subject that Nathan and Kimm are well-versed in. Indeed, Nimblewill Nomad, who was with the two of them at Trail Days, got particularly het up over the subject. We'll let you decide. Listen to the two of them, then read the article below by Nimblewill, and, if you're convinced, why not sign their petition on change.org? https://nimblewillnomad.com/2022/02/24/pt-bmt-at-let-em-be/ https://www.change.org/p/do-not-move-the-appalachian-trail-terminus They also talked about the Pinhoti Trail "Kick Off," later in the year. You can check that out at https://www.facebook.com/events/1437834616634802 Some of the surviving members of the Mighty Blue Class of 2022 report in, with Dom Tammaro and Dan Whitesides giving their progress reports. From an old friend of the show, JC Van Etten, or Catmando, I got a call yesterday morning and he sent me some spectacular pictures ofrom the summit of Mt Whitney. It was great to hear from me, as well as a reminder that I'll be pushing for Whitney later this year.    Finally, the rest of the first chapter of George Steffanos's "Then the Hail Came." 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. 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.

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 north from Harpers Ferry to Katahdin, then south to Springer. His northern section was spent with a tramily, while he was largely solo in the south. We discuss the differences between both sections. Chris has written a book about his adventures and has put up a Kickstarter for those who would like to support his efforts to publish his book. You can support that here. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/readuncivilized/uncivilized He can also be found on social media at https://www.facebook.com/chris.veasey.9 and https://www.instagram.com/thats1ezvz/ We catch up with some of the surviving members of our Mighty Blue Class of 2022, with Sarah Landis loving her time on the trail. Kera, Ryan, and Brittaney–while definitely loving the trail–have experienced both the highs and lows of trail life. Finally, I'm reading the first part of George Steffanos's book, "Then The Hail Came." 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. 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.

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 over ten years. He has advised companies on how to deal with their outdoor employees, suggesting best practice to keep them from contracting Lyme and other diseases. Today, he's offering advice to hikers and backpackers. He does this in a fun, informative way, and I think we hit all the important points. If you'd like to learn more, Brian's website is https://www.thetickterminator.com, while he can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lymetick/ We caught up with another two of our Mighty Blue Class of 22. This time, Dom Tammaro tells us of his rattle snake encounter AND his new trail name, while Joanne Birditt has eventually called a halt to her hike. Her smiling face on the show told me that it was the right decision. Finally today, we have the Prologue of our new book. This was formerly a blog post, and I recently received permission to read it from George Steffanos, the writer. You can read more about George and his book at his website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/, as well as buy his book from 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. 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.

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 certainly didn't know about this little gem in Scotland. I'd originally intended to couple a quicker hike on the WHW with a similarly fast walk on Hadrian's Wall Path. However, as you'll hear, fate intervened, and I had one of my most satisfying hikes. I've also added a lot more pictures this week (corresponding with the day they were taken), because I didn't share many of them on Facebook or Instagram. For those of you who are interested, my itinerary was as follows: Day 1 - from Milngavie (Mile Zero) to Drymen Camping (Mile 11.0), an 11 mile day Day 2 - from Drymen Camping (Mile 11.0) to Balmaha (Mile 19.2), an 8.2 mile day Day 3 - from Balmaha (Mile 19.2) to Rowardennan (Mile 27.6), an 8.4 mile day Day 4 - from Rowardennan (Mile 27.6) to Inverarnan (Mile 41.5), a 13.9 mile day Day 5 - from Inverarnan (Mile 41.5) to Tyndrum (Mile 53.3), an 11.8 mile day Day 6 - from Tyndrum (Mile 53.3) to The Bridge of Orchy (Mile 60.3), a 7 mile day Day 7 - from The Bridge of Orchy (Mile 60.3) to Glencoe "Pods" (Mile 72.4), a 12.1 mile day Day 8 - from Glencoe "Pods" (Mile 72.4) to Kinlochleven (Mile 81.3), an 8.9 mile day Day 9 - from Kinlochleven (Mile 81.3) to Fort William (Mile 96.8), a 15.5 mile day. 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. 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.

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 cases–and the suspension of their hikes–in a few cases. One thing that is apparent from these conversations is that nobody's experience is like any other hiker's experience. The conversations speak for themselves and, going forward, I want you all to know who we're following out there. Each of the interviews is time stamped to allow you to jump to your favorite. 1:50 - Dave Burge 15:52 - Chuck Hays 26:26 - Sarah Landis 36:57 - Hugh and Kerry Ickrath 52:30 - Daniel Whitesides 59:22 - Dom Tammaro 1:10:43 - Barry Hill - No pic 1:18:13 - Joanne Birditt - No pic 1:29:08 - Kera, Ryan, and Brittaney 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. 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.

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 originally intending to hit the AT. Instead, Traci absorbed the information, found herself drawn in by the adventure, and eventually went alone on the trail. She plans to hike the PCT this year, WITH her husband Don, so we'll look out for that story later in the year. You can connect with Traci through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/traci.marriedtodon, Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thereluctanthiker72/, and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjGW87doU9H8XxouyOB1iXw Our final catch up with our Class of 2022 is with Sarah Fox. Sarah even discusses the possibility that she will leave her dog at home, depending upon how she perceives the trail to be. 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. If you'd like to take advantage of Steve's Trail Days book offer (all three of his printed hiking books for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

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 saw their hike as an opportunity to encourage and learn about their fellow travelers, offering support and encouragement as they went along. Ken wrote a book following their hike, and that is to be released shortly. When I get back from the UK, I'll let you all have the link. Also today, Trumpet, or Dan Whitesides and his awesome dog, FrankE are getting ready to drive across country to Georgia and the beginning of their hike. They're doing a shakedown hike on the Bartram Trail first. I recorded Trumpet on March the 1st, so he'll be well on his way when you hear this. 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. 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.

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 Trail–you'll know exactly why!! Ken is such a positive person, carrying and expressing his faith all the way to Katahdin, meeting people along the way who were happy to pray with him. You can check out Bestill on the Trail at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU6UNNbl5GM2KoTeOU-nhAQ. Our Mighty Blue Class of 2022 members this week are Kera, Ryan, and Brittaney. All three are looking forward to their impending trip, with a little apprehension thrown in for good measure! 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. 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.