Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream

We always planned to have this final episode, so it was great to catch up with Bruce in such good spirits after his epic journey. He'd been home for a month and was starting to absorb what he'd done, yet his stresses from "normal" life were piling up once more. We spoke about what he'd learned and how he felt after his journey, with some words from Cheryl to give another perspective. I couldn't be happier that we followed Bruce. Like Jessa, last year, he was an interesting person who articulated the ups and downs of life on the trail. Also like Jessa, he had had moments of doubt that needed to be overcome. We're now two for two. Let's hope that I can make it three for three next year. Thanks for listening. Your support has meant a lot to both of us.

As all things must do, the end was in sight as Bruce set off into the 100 Mile Wilderness last week. I didn't hear from him again until Saturday evening when he had summited Katahdin and fulfilled his 44-year dream to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. There is plenty of time for Bruce to draw his conclusions of a journey that had kept him occupied, away from his beloved family for half a year. This episode is going to follow the pattern of all the others, with his stories on the trail, his thoughts about aspects of hiking the trail and, of course, his epic retelling of his final day on the trail. I'm full of admiration for Bruce's tenacity and vulnerability and the way he has managed his expectations along this pathway. He hasn't always been frank with how tough it has been, yet he has always projected a positivity that surely carried him to the top of Katahdin. At the end of the day, it was the finish he wanted. We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals. They have assisted greatly in bringing this show to you and I'll always be grateful for that support. One last thing which has often been buried under the news of Bruce's progress. He has been raising funds for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, an organization dedicated to making the trail accessible to all. If you've loved this podcast I'd urge you to make a donation to the fund that Bruce is personally matching out of his own funds. Click on the link and support the ATC.  http://www.rtkchallenge.com/support/   Thanks for all your support.

Bruce is now within a week of Katahdin, at Monson, preparing for the 100 Mile Wilderness. By the time you hear this show, he'll be in the wilderness and out of touch, reflecting on the beauty he has seen. He and his buddy, GBolt have decided to load up six days of food and enjoy the wilderness without interruption or food drop. It is hard to believe that the journey is almost over, yet the culmination of Bruce's 44-year dream concludes next Saturday, September 1 as he climbs Katahdin with Cheryl. We also say goodbye to our great sponsor, Trailtopia, who has been with us all the way. We hope that you take the opportunity to support Trailtopia when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out the wide variety of meals that are on offer. We hope that you come back next week to hear how this epic journey comes to an end.

With just a couple of weeks left on the trail, Bruce reassesses his difficulty rating after his New Hampshire and Maine experience. Recon has sustained an injury that forced him from the trail, leaving Bruce and Gbolt together as they contemplate the 100-Mile Wilderness. They intend to use their time in the Wilderness to reflect upon what they have achieved so far. We also got a great question from Patrick Sackrider about how impactful a thru-hike might have been on Bruce and me had we done it in our 20s as opposed to our 60s. It made us both think and speculate. We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals. 

Bruce is in the last state–Maine. He has already gone through the Mahoosuc Notch, a kind of rocky jigsaw puzzle, where you work out the best route as you move through it. The pictures in these notes are taken by Bruce and feature his two hiking compadres, Gbolt and Recon. He felt the need to hike with other people, partly out of safety reasons but also because he wanted to share his hike with other people. Many hikers team up with a trail family, or "tramily," for the majority of their journey but Bruce has rarely hiked with others for more than a day. He intentionally considered and prayed for hiking partners and he met and teamed up with his current friends the following day. He speaks about his faith and how it has helped him on the trip. Shout out to Jeff and Tracy for sharing their home with Bruce and other hikers simply out of the goodness in their hearts and their fascination with the stories from the trail. Also, thanks to GBolt for asking Bruce his question. He's already sent his address to receive his two Trailtopia meals We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals. 

Bruce has been in one of my favourite parts of the trail; The White Mountains in New Hampshire. As always, he has researched his subject and knew what to expect. Consequently, he has had a tough time that he knew was coming. The weather doesn't always cooperate–and it didn't for Bruce–but the scenery, when you find it, is hard to beat. He even had fairly decent weather as he crossed the second-highest point of the trail, Mt Washington. With the Whites pretty much now behind him, he is looking forward to the last great test before Mt Katahdin; Southern Maine. We had an excellent question this week about thunderstorms from David Braxton, so make sure that you send me your address, David, so that I can get two of Trailtopia's yummy meals sent to you. We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.  

With twelve states in his rearview mirror, Bruce has started New Hampshire. As he alludes to in the show, this is a moment that makes you bring Katahdin into clearer focus and, in of itself, it is a huge achievement. For a man who REALLY plans, he hasn't considered his sleeping arrangements in New Hampshire, a critical consideration due to the expensive system of AMC Huts. I was able to send Bruce a link to those stealth sites. If you'd like to see them, click here.  https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbackpackinglight.com%2Fforums%2Ftopic%2F86526%2F&h=AT3dlpE85FAl6JMiJk97mu9BWwrwETI6GHSGug1qXhsyUu4eUNdoogQg1-fuIXyDCBK1-97iKR6G_FhbJI2WkLy4vRLAlzCnOOl7aqHomjrtallVKPS6jGh82LyaJteTEcdrVqecTNcv-FGkFJ5O2btGWg He was also regretful at having missed sunsets and sunrises, an error I made back in 2014. Next year I'll be seeking them out assiduously. We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.  

With Bruce hiking in the lurking shadow of Mt Killington and Vermont, we caught up this week. His mood had turned around from his "Banana Pudding Moment" and, probably critically, he was hiking in more conducive weather. The oppressive heat of the previous week or so had dissipated and he was well back on track. We had a great question from Barb Oelschlegel about what constitutes the optimal trail magic and Bruce revealed his bug strategy which is, to say the least, surprising. We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.  

This past week, Bruce put up a post on his blog that, for the first time, revealed some of the insecurities that can come with a long-distance hike. While we spoke about his latest progress on the trail–he has just passed Mile 1600–we also looked at that "Banana Pudding" moment that almost derailed his hike. The post can be found at this link. http://www.rtkchallenge.com/2018/07/11/week-19-my-banana-pudding-moment/ When I asked him if he would have made any changes to his preparation for the hike, he mentioned that he had changed his camp shoes to Hounds, a Crocs knockoff. They can be found here. He did say that they were $9 but these are $14. Either way, it seems like a deal to me. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hounds-Men-s-Ultralite-Shoes/147128585 With New Hampshire and Maine just over the horizon, I also promised to add a link to my own experiences in those glorious states. I hope that you love the music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgWXN7C7Te0 We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.

Bruce spent several days off the trail this week. He has family in Connecticut and spent a couple of days with them, then a day hike with his daughter Amy and a family member. Though not in the interview, he also shared with Steve the extent of the damage that the rocks of Pennsylvania and, to a lesser extent, New Jersey and New York, had done to his psyche. This is a subject we will discuss in next week's show, though I'm aware that the main reason he probably "confessed" to this is that these days in Connecticut have revived him and, once the hot weather subsides, he'll be hiking with a renewed vigor. I took the chance to also chat with Amy, his younger daughter once she had returned to New York. We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.  

Bruce and his daughter, Brook, shared a couple of days hiking in New York this week.  So, after chatting with Bruce, I also had a word with Brooke about her father's almost serene progress. Water has started to become more scarce, with planning vital to avoid a parched six or seven miles. Bruce has found great value in the Guthooks Guide on his phone, with updates on where water can–and can't–be found. He also realized that the rocks weren't quite finished yet! Eric Tomorrow came up with this week's question about unexpected places Bruce had discovered. The timing couldn't have been better as Bruce found one the day before we spoke. Don't forget, Eric, we need your address. Send it to steve@hikingradionetwork.com and Trailtopia will send you two of their delicious meals. By the time you hear the show, our man will be into his 10th state. We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.

Hoping for somewhat of a respite from Pennsylvania, Bruce had a tough time in one of the New York sections, skipping it temporarily when the forecast showed 100% chance of rain. As always, his instincts seemed spot on, and he has made it up and over Bear Mountain, one of the bigger climbs in New York. We discuss the differences between hiking the AT now and hiking it back in the 40s and 50s, prompted by a smart question from one of our listeners. Then, in a couple of quickfire questions, Bruce came up with his best and worst moments, and places, so far. We spoke again yesterday (Sunday) when Bruce confirmed my recollection of a horrendous climb down from Arden Mountain. I knew I hadn't been making it up!! We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.   

Bruce invited yet another guest hiker to join him on his journey. The only problem might be that Pennsylvania isn't the easiest place to get your trail legs. Further, combining the climb up out of Lehigh Gap AND the Knife's Edge isn't exactly Amateur Hour. As always with Bruce, his preparations and expectations were geared towards this and he handled it all really well. Having successfully maintained his hike through Pennsylvania, Bruce got an early taste of the unexpectedly beautiful New Jersey; still rocks but glorious views all around. He also spent an idyllic time by and circling the gorgeous Sunfish Pond, one of my favorite sights on the AT. We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.   

With Bruce deep into Pennsylvania, Steve was expecting this week to have been especially challenging for him. However, just as he's faced every adversity in the past, Bruce has managed his way through the rocks and reached Port Clinton. He's even seen more wildlife. While he is nowhere near finished with the state (or, perhaps, the state has nowhere finished with him), he has invited a buddy to hike with him on the notorious Knife's Edge and the exciting but challenging climb up from Lehigh Gap. I forgot to thank Samuel Cutshall for his interesting question for Bruce on faith. As always, you got a considered answer, Samuel. Please let me have your home address so that I can get Trailtopia to send a couple of meals your way. Don't be like me and forget–to follow Bruce's journal and YouTube channel. We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.  

Now back into the swing of things, Bruce has passed the halfway mark and is into Pennsylvania. He hasn't been fully tested by the rocks yet but has had a few early "tasters" to give him some idea of what is to come. He has at last seen some wildlife, so Bruce and Steve discuss the beauty of animals in the wild. From the sublime to the ridiculous, he also took part in the time-honored tradition of the Half-Gallon Challenge. Thanks to Annie Chavent for her question about how, or whether, Bruce chooses his distractions on the trail. Make sure you get your address to me to take advantage of the free Trailtopia meals. Remember to catch up with Bruce's blog at RTKChallenge.com and don't forget to take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.  

Bruce breezes past the 1,000-mile marker and reaches Harpers Ferry, the traditional halfway spot on the AT. He and Steve discuss returning to the trail the compartmentalization of his hike and his home life. He continues to drop weight and the picture below really pushes that home. Looks like a new pair of shorts will soon be needed.   Bruce also realized that too long away from the trail in the middle of a through hike is not a good idea, and he was ready to return after a week at home. Still, as you'll hear at the end of our second conversation, he doesn't always find the right place to sit!! We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.

Bruce and Steve took the opportunity this week to reflect on his journey so far. He has been home for a week for his daughter Brooke's graduation and used the time to rest, spend time with friends and make changes to his pack. We discuss Bruce's choice of start date and the weather that he faced, the prospect of adding an umbrella to his gear, and the true meaning of Trail Magic. We hope that you consider supporting our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals.

This week, Bruce had a shorter time on the trail, leaving last Friday to return home for his daughter's graduation and Mother's Day. He spent part of the week hiking in Shenandoah National Park with a buddy from home. It was an easier week than most, but he heads home with more than 900 miles hiked and his plans going as he'd hoped. Bruce will return after a week or so at home, so next week's show will have his reflections on those first 900 miles. If you'd like to follow more of Bruce's story, why not watch him on his YouTube channel, Bruce RTK Matson. Thanks to those of you who have been checking out Trailtopia's great offerings at their site, Trailtopia.com.

Bruce continues to shed weight as he pushes past the 800-mile mark with his boundless enthusiasm and positivity. Having come to his home state of Virginia, he is joined on the trail with Cheryl, his wife, along with a few more friends. They recently hiked together up to the iconic MacAfee Knob, taking in Tinker Cliffs as a wonderful extra bonus for the day. You can see the weight loss on Bruce in this great shot with Cheryl. A few miles further along, after MacAfee Knob, the wonderful Tinker Cliffs afford you a magnificent panorama as you hike close to the edge. I loved it there, as did Bruce. We had a bit of a technical issue on Sunday morning, so I ended up chatting with Bruce in the configuration below. I do not recommend it. Don't forget to support our great sponsor, Trailopia, when you plan your next trip onto a trail. Bruce reminded listeners how they can contribute to his goal of raising funds for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Click on the link below to go straight to the page set up for these donations. https://fundraise.appalachiantrail.org/atc2018/donation/Individual/RTK

Bruce seems to be gaining strength from losing weight and gaining his trail legs after 700 miles on the trail. He is even making his friends give him a double take when they come and visit him. This week, he and Steve share their experiences at Dragon's Tooth, with the dreaded climb down a strong memory for Steve. Bruce seemed to take that in his stride, though he talks of the previous couple of miles and the angular rocks that he encountered. With Cheryl and some friends visiting him this weekend, he is set for a warm week ahead and the iconic Kodak moment at MacAfee Knob, probably the most sought-after photograph after the one at Mt Katahdin. Last week, in Pearisburg, Bruce got Trail Magic from one of our listeners, Eliza Suzanne. Thanks so much, Eliza, it's hard to put into words how wonderful it is to get visitors on the trail. You can keep up with Bruce's blog at http://www.rtkchallenge.com/ and follow his YouTube channel at Returning to Katahdin. While you're online, we hope that you'll consider supporting our sponsor, Trailtopia.

Spring appears to be constantly derailed by late winter blasts on the Appalachian Trail this year but Bruce's spirit remains high. The two of us caught up twice this week, and by the second time he had reached Pearisburg. Each week I've been noticing that his confidence has grown and he has come through his baptism of snow with a renewed enthusiasm. Bruce visited the Woods Hole Hostel, a place that I missed but one around which he deliberately planned his trip. He wasn't disappointed by what he found.  If you have questions for Bruce–and many of you seem to–please email me at steve@mightyblueontheat.com and I'll try to make sure that Bruce answers them all. If your question is chosen you'll receive two trail meals from Trailtopia. If you'd like to know more about Trailtopia, please visit their site; you won't be disappointed. 

Bruce and Steve caught up just once this week, but it was just in time to catch him celebrating a big milestone in his hike. He is now hiking well, the weather is warming, and his weight is plummeting.   He has gone through the gorgeous Grayson Highlands (above)–ponies and all–and is embracing all aspects of his hike. Steve and Bruce discuss the beauty of the area, as Steve reminisces about the area and gives Bruce something of a preview of the next few days. Despite the fact that he has passed the 500-mile mark, Bruce still hasn't felt the hiker hunger that normally accompanies such exertion. He's losing weight at quite a pace, yet feels great. If you want to find out more about his journey–and how you can contribute to his fund-raiser for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy–visit his site at RTKChallenge.com. While you're there, why not hop on over to our sponsor, Trailtopia's site to plan the food for your next hike.

Bruce has reached Damascus and is resting for a couple of zero days, taking in the Masters Golf Tournament on TV at the same time. He is expressing confidence in what he has learned on the trail to this stage and feels that Damascus is the end of the beginning.  We talk about his Winter Supplement; those items specifically chosen to help him cope with the cold should there be any. So far, snow, rain, and cold have been the predominant weather characteristics, so he remains grateful to his preparation. Don't forget to follow Bruce's YouTube channel if you'd like to see some of the dreadful weather Bruce has been facing, and read his blog, at RTKchallenge.com for more insights and pictures (as we don't seem to have any this week). As always, we are so grateful for the generosity and support of Trailtopia in their support for our shows.     

Bruce has certainly had his share of lousy weather so far but he has remained upbeat most of the time. We caught up with him twice again and he experienced the unpredictable nature of weather in the mountains. He noticed the first signs of an imminent Spring and even ran into my old buddy from the Fat Guys group last year, Vagabond Jack.    Bruce is now hiking around one of my favorite spots on the trail; both north and south from Carvers Gap. He posted a great picture of the spruce forest on the top of Unaka Mountain, a view I recall so well from my time on the trail four years ago. That very spot resonated so much with me and elicited memories all around that area. I recall that going into that forest I was a little nervous about how dark it was but, once I was in there, it was a delight to make my way along the path. As always, we thank our sponsors, Trailtopia for their unstinting support of our shows, so please check out the variety of food that they offer hikers. The great news this week is that our new network site, HikingRadioNetwork.com, is now open and ALL our shows can be heard in this one location. Try it out; we think you'll love it. If you see ways in which we can improve on it please let me know at steve@mightyblueontheat.com

We had a few communications problems this week, with dropped calls, interrupted sessions and even the mowing crew outside my home causing a few editing difficulties. Despite this, Bruce is making strong progress, passing the 300 mile mark and well past Hot Springs. To give you some idea of the weather that he has faced, this photo shows his tent after a nighttime snowfall.    It has not all been cold days and nights. When we spoke on Tuesday, Bruce had found a good spot to chat on the top of Snowbird Mountain.   A listener, John Dupras, came up with a burning question for Bruce, so much so that he had to take something of a timeout to formulate his response. If you're reading this, John, thanks for the question and please send me your email so that I can get a couple of meals sent to you. The Hiking Radio Network published two new shows this week. First, Anna Huthmaker, the inspirational woman who started Trail Dames, is starting her own show. Anna is interviewing strong, equally inspirational women for her monthly show. The Trail Dames Podcast is available on iTunes and wherever you find your posdcasts. Jessica "Dixie" Mills is the star of our other new offering. Dixie "LIVE" on the Continental Divide Trail is our attempt to get as close as possible to a live broadcast from the trail. Dixie starts her journey in the next week to ten days and the first three episodes, about her preparations for the hike, are free to listeners at this link. http://dixielive.libsyn.com  From April 1, all our podcasts will be found under HikingRadioNetwork.com and Dixie's shows will be published at least twice a week whenever possible. This show is a premium show and will be available at $4 per month to subscribers. If you have ANY questions about this please email me at steve@mightyblueontheat.com In the show I mentioned a suggestion from a listener, Bill Ruddy. Bill wanted me to remind people of the other reason for Bruce's hike; the purpose beyond self. Bruce is trying to raise $250,000 for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, so I've put the direct link to Bruce's donation page on the ATC's website. Just click this DONATEbutton and you'll be directed to the site. Thanks for anything that you can afford. Don't forget to visit Bruce's hike page at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also findr our podcasty. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.

By Friday of this week I hadn't heard from Bruce and, knowing that there was some fiercely cold weather in the region, I was starting to get a little concerned for him. I needn't have worried. He's about as prepared as a man could be for this journey and eventually got through to me at lunchtime on Friday. In the meantime, I had spoken with his lovely daughter, Brooke. She has spent the previous weekend with her father on his journey and they had had a blast. You can see from the photos that Bruce sent me that he's certainly needed his microspikes, with the snow turning to ice and giving him tricky conditions underfoot. The really great thing is that he is having a blast, learning as he progresses, and his gear is working out for him. Make sure you catch up with Bruce's blog at rtkchallenge.com and check out the great trail food options from our sponsor, Trailtopia.  

My first conversation with Bruce on this week was when he was halfway up Albert Mountain, at the 100-mile point. He had already experienced a tough climb out of Bly Gap and felt that it had been tougher. What he didn't know at the time was that it is the second part of the Albert Mountain Climb that really tests you. He sounded really well and a few pictures from his Facebook page endorsed that view. He was happy with the way his gear was working and all his choices were performing as expected. One thing that Bruce mentioned was the tiredness that sometimes engulfs you fter a hard day's hike. I know that feeling well and just seeing his tent made me yawn. The second time that we spoke he had his daughter, Brooke with him. She had just turned up and his joy at having a hiking buddy was palpable. He'd had a very, very long-time-ago deja vu at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and had negotiated the climb out of NOC really well. As you'd imagine with Bruce, everything was going to plan. You can read more about Bruce and his hike on his blog. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.      

I was able to catch up twice with Bruce this week. He's made solid progress and is, not surprisingly for this "man with a plan," precisely where he’d planned to be at this stage. He had anticipated that his second night on the trail would establish his mindset that he was really in the woods for an extended period of time. For that evening, he found himself stealth camping, with a gorgeous view, along with several other hikers. The journey was really on and this was his view that evening.   There then followed a period of rather worrying (for me) radio silence. I needn't have worried and Bruce eventually reached out. Our second conversation (which was interrupted when Bruce had to find a better, less windy spot) showed him to be happy with his progress and his hike. These are early days and there is still plenty of tough climbing to follow, so we'll be checking his progress in the coming weeks as he settles into the rhythm of his hike. Don't forget to check in on Bruce’s blog, which is going to be regularly updated. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.

It has been a long time coming but Bruce is finally on his way. I spoke with him, along with his wife Cheryl on Saturday, 24 February as they prepared to hit the Approach Trail at Amicolola Falls State Park. All the preparation had lead to this and Bruce was ready to go. How lovely it must have been for him when two listeners of the show, Robert and Margaret Thomas showed up to wish them Happy Trails. What a kind gesture that was.   After taking in the atmosphere at the bottom of the mountain and registering as the 292nd hiker of the 2018 season, Bruce and Cheryl set off. Several hours later, carrying day packs and fresher than I expected, they got to the top and had the obligatory picture by the famous green plaque. I often look at my version of this and I always smile. So he's away! Late on Sunday, I also had a brief chat with Cheryl as she returned home. She'd become a little emotional as he left and even recorded the scene. Click the link below to see his first steps with his full pack. https://youtu.be/eNO4NBhf1s8

With just seven days to go, Bruce and Steve have a longer-than-normal chat about his going-away party, his final thoughts and wishes for his journey, as well as some of the ramifications that his hike may have on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While I had found him to be stressed and distracted on his home territory when I visited him in Virginia last Friday, he was completely different when we spoke yesterday (Sunday). He seemed to be thoroughly in the zone and counting his blessings, not least of which were his friends and family who attended last Friday's send-off. As you can see below, he has what he calls a kilt but, to anybody with even passable eyesight, it is clearly a skirt. Nice!! Bruce knows that the hike is to fulfill a long-cherished ambition, but he also wants to leave a legacy that will go beyond that personal ambition. If you want to support his efforts on behalf of ATC, you can visit his RTKChallenge.com page or simply go to this link on the ATC site and you'll be in the right place to make your donation. Next week, we'll have our first chat with Bruce on the trail, hopefully at the top of Springer Mountain, with his lovely wife, Cheryl.  

We have a special guest today. With Bruce continuing the countdown to his departure in less than two weeks, Suzanne Dixon, the new President and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, spoke with Steve about the work that she and her great team at ATC are doing. Every hiker who has ever stepped on the AT should be grateful for the sterling work done by the ATC over their nearly-100-year history. Suzanne shares the ongoing work that she and her team are undertaking to make the trail more accessible to a wider diversity of age and ethnicity. She is especially enthusiastic about the non-partisan collaboration with the Federal Government and the potential for the economic revival of many of the towns along the trail. Bruce will be back with us next week, in our last conversation before he sets off. Make sure that you follow his blog at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.  

With less than three weeks to go, Bruce is down to the last few items he wants to complete his pack. These are the things that he has to balance between carrying the extra weight for the additional boost to his hike that they will provide. He is also narrowing down any "luxury" items. With all this talk about hiking and gear, we thought we'd add a few pics of Bruce in the woods (and on a few mountains) and some of the gear he is taking. As you can see below, he's looking very relaxed sitting next to his tent. Bruce’s blog is now regularly updated. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.  

With everything coming together, Steve and Bruce turn their attention to the supply, resupply, and the delivery systems that Bruce will take with him with regard to food. He will be receiving packages from home at intervals and decide once he gets to his home state of Virginia whether or not he wants to continue the practice. There are plenty of places to come off the trai, so resupply in towns is a very viable option. Bruce has brought his attention to detail to his selection of items for cooking and filtering his water. His choice of stove is the MSR Reactor, shown below. The almost ubiquitous filtration system is the Sawyer Squeeze. I had one for my hike and, paired with a "Smart" water bottle, it is the most efficient way of quickly getting clean water from a stream (or a pond) into your water bottle. Several people have remarked that the Mini Squeeze isn't as efficient (read: fast), so the original Squeeze seems to be the way to go. Bruce sets out in only 25 days and his blog is getting more attention as the date draws near. Visit his new site rtkchallenge.com to sign up and look around. As always, we're grateful to our sponsor, Trailtopia. We wouldn't be able to consistenly produce these shows without their generous support.

Bruce's planning has included the very real possibility, indeed certainty, that he will face some extreme weather by heading out so early. To that end, he has built a Winter Supplement that brings in certain items that will later be changed when the warmer weather arrives. You can see his Winter Supplement at this Geargram link https://www.geargrams.com/list?id=38901 We discuss the various items and I weigh in on the subject with a number of my experiences in the cold in 2014. Elizabeth McDonough provided Bruce with trhis week's question so, Elizabeth, send me your address to steve@mightyblueontheat.com. Don't forget, if you want to support Bruce's hike with a donation to the ATC, his website, ReturningToKatahdin.com, has all the details you need. Once you get there, click on Support and you'll be there. Otherwise, you can simply click here to be taken directly to the support page, then click on the large ATC sign to donate. Next week, we'll be talking food and resupply. Talking of food, don't forget to look at Trailtopia's site for their delicious array of adventure food. 

We're on to Bruce's choice of gear, with the Big Three uppermost in his mind. These are the tent, the backpack, and the sleeping bag. As always with Bruce, he has put a lot of thought into these choices. His rationale for his choice of tent came from a remark of an REI employee. Always worth listening to the experts! Bruce chose his tent of a couple of years, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2. There is now an updated model.     His backpack, the Osprey Atmos AG 65L, consistently rates very highly and Bruce makes the point that what it lacks in lightness is more than offset in the efficiency of the weight distribution. This is a timely reminder that simply saving weight is NOT the ultimate answer.       For his sleeping bag, Bruce opted for the Mountain Hardware Phantom 15. I love how cosy this bag looks. He'll certainly be needing it in those early months. This should be very comfortable down to 15 degrees, but will be further improved by a liner.     Last, but definitely not least, Bruce has opted for the Klymit Static V for his air pad. I laid on this exact pad at Trail Days last year. It is extremely comfortable and sells at a killer price–a winning combination. So, they are Bruce's larger item choices. We'd love to know what you think of them. Next week, we'll be talking about the extra gear he'll have for those early, very cold months. Don't forget to follow Bruce at ReturningToKatahdin.com and our sponsors at Trailtopia.com.  

The premise for this week's show mirrors a popular show in the UK for the past 75 years. Bruce has chosen just eight "discs" to take with him on his journey. Limiting himself to just eight was a real challenge. So much so that he came up with a list of 24. This man is REALLY thorough!! We also had a question from Judy Mikesell. Make sure that you send my your address, Judy, so that Trailtopia can send you a couple of their delicious meals. Don't forget to keep sending in questions for Bruce and make sure that you check out Trailtopia's site so that you can even make your choice. If you'd like to learn more about Bruce and his hike, visit ReturningToKatahdin.com. 

This week, we talk about the various fears–or maybe just concerns–that afflict hikers when they prepare to head out into the woods for six months. Bruce is so well prepared and has considered many of the things that may happen while he is away. Yet he still finds a few things that will make him keep a watchful eye, particularly in the first few weeks. Nobody takes on an adventure like this without a few niggling thoughts at the back of your mind. For those who worry about animals; the tick is probably the worst one to come into contact with. Bears and snakes want no part of you, really, while moose will leave you with your mouth wide open in utter awe should you be lucky enough to run into one. My hiking buddies and I saw this little beauty in New Hampshire. Click here. For some reason, the stand-alone video of the moose seems to have disappeared from my YouTube account, so I've linked you to the spot where he appears in a longer film of my journey. Rick Watts and Kristen Gardena got to ask their questions this week. I still need your address Rick. We've got a bit of an experiment next week, with my own version of Desert Island Discs. Don't worry, it will all become clear on the show. Please subscribe to us on iTunes and to Bruce's blog at ReturningToKatahdin.com and, while you're online, drop into Trailtopia's website to learn a bit more about some of their tasty offerings.  

This week, in our Christmas Day show, what could be more appropriate than hearing from Bruce's family and what they think about Bruce's upcoming thru-hike. I quickly learned that they share Bruce's confidence in his meticulous preparation. However, once our interview was over, one of his daughters shared a few things that I wasn't expecting. It turns out that, despite his many accomplishments, Bruce is just one of four highly accomplished family members. His wife and daughters had their own individual takes, but each was supportive and confident in Bruce's readiness. If you'd like to learn more about the hike and read Bruce's blog, head over to ReturningToKatahdin.com. Don't forget to also visit our sponsor's site at Trailtopia.com.

Bruce and Steve discuss the impact upon the trail that some of the super-fast hikers may have engendered. Bruce is a bit of a self-confessed Appalachian Trail nerd, with interest in the various hikers who have lowered the FKT records over the years. He, of course, is hoping to set a record of his own. While the preparation for such a hike is extensive, Bruce has managed to put together a plan to raise $250,000 for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. He recognizes that this may put further pressure on him but is determined to enjoy his hike first and foremost. Steve has his own theory as to why Bruce sometimes seems a little reserved on the show. A recent encounter on the golf course informed his view and he shares it here. With Christmas Day soon to be upon us, next week we'll have Bruce's wiife, Cheryl, and daughters, Brooke and Amy, to share their thoughts on his upcoming adventure. Remember to visting our sponsors, Trailtopia, online as well as Bruce's site, Returning To Katahdin for more information.  

Bruce and Steve discuss the possibility of boredom on the trail and how Bruce may cope with it should it arise. He has a "novel" solution to the problem. This question was from listener Eliza Newland, so thanks for that Eliza. She wins two of Trailtopia's scrumptious meals. Remember to keep sending in your questions as there'll be two meals given away each week. After dealing with boredom, Bruce and Steve are all about the gear, with Bruce's planning acumen to the fore. He has what he calls a "Working Gear List" that records his various options, constantly refining those options until he is sure he has what he wants. There are compromises to make, with the weight of something balanced against its utility value or even its status as a comfort item. With the focus constantly on getting to Katahdin, Bruce sees everything through that lens. If you're interested in learning more about Bruce's approach to the hike visit his website, ReturningToKatahdin.com, where you can sign up for his newsletter. While you're there, don't forget also to check out our sponsor's site, Trailtopia.com.       

I always hoped that I'd be able to speak with Bruce's family, friends, and colleagues on their reaction to and expectations of his upcoming thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. We started with Bruce's law partner of over 20 years, Gary LeClair. Gary proved to be a delight to chat with. He was open, friendly, and made me laugh out loud several times. While I never expected him to dish any dirt on Bruce–indeed, it seems that none exists–he was able to tell us a couple of stories that allowed us to further understand Bruce and his motivations for the hike. Most significantly, in my eyes, it was the whole-hearted support that Gary gave to his friend that warmed my heart. Bruce certainly won't be lacking in support when he sets out, and his former colleagues will be cheering him on every step of the way. Remember to visit Bruce's site about his hike, ReturningToKatahdin.com and subscribe to his newsletter. Also, while you're online, why not pop over to Trailtopia's website at the same time.  

Bruce and Steve discuss the various aspects of Bruce's preparation for his 2018 thru-hike. They consider whether or not the challenge is more mental or more physical. Bruce explains how he has been preparing for both aspects. While Steve had limited preparation for his hike, the two of them talk about how proper preparation can enhance the experience. They both get a kick out of listener Barb Oelschlegal's question about how Bruce's wife will spend her time while he is away. Ultimately, both agree that it is how one responds to the multiplicity  of challenges on the trail that will go a long way to determining the ultimate success or failure of a long-distance hike. With just 90 days to go, Bruce is also struggling to comtain his excitement about his adventure. The countdown has begun! To read more about Bruce, his hike and his fund-raising, go to his RTK website. Please also support our friends at Trailtopia. We thank them for their generous support for the show.    

This week, Bruce and Steve talk about why Bruce chose the name Returning to Katahdin and the theme that it represents. He also explains how his trail name came about. He gets reflective about taking the trail on at this time in his life and the further opportunities he'll have on the trail to simply think. Bruce even talks through the possibility that he's in love with the idea of the hike as opposed to the hike itself, believing that by returning to Katahdin he'll discover what his dream was all about. A listener, Ryan Carr, came up with a question that asked Bruce to draw upon his Camino experience and the anticipated cultural differences between the two hikes. If you'd like to learn more about Bruce and his hike, as well as about his goal of raising money for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, visit his website, ReturningToKatahdin.com. While you're online, why not also check out the site of our great sponsor, Trailtopia.       

This week, Bruce and Steve talk about two of the most fundamental decisions for all hikers. Which direction do I want to go and, once that is resolved, when do I wish to leave. Bruce has some thoughful answers to these questions and shows that his preparation has been thorough and logical. He considered a SOBO hike and a flip flop, yet he'll be taking the most-travelled path–from Springer Mountain in Georgia and ending half a year later at Mt Katahdin in Maine. He even validates his choice of late February as a start date, much to Steve's bemusement. Please join us again next week, when we discuss the theme of the title of the show: Returning to Katahdin. If you're intrigued by Trailtopia and their adventure food, head on over to their website, Trailtopia.com, and see what they have to offer. Don't forget that you can win a couple of their delicious meals–every week–by sending me questions for Bruce. Believe me, no question is out of bounds. You can email me at steve@mightyblueontheat.com, or you can go directly to Bruce about the show or anything to do with his hike at rtkchallenge@gmail.com. If you'd like to learn even more about Bruce's hike and his great efforts to support the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, visit his website, ReturningtoKatahdin.com.

In this first episode, Bruce and Steve discuss the origins of Bruce's desire to hike the trail and why it has stayed on his bucket list for over 40 years. We learn a little of Bruce's back story, and Steve finds out that he has quite a rich history of sport throughout his life, having run marathons and hiked the Camino, in Spain. We're hoping to make our show as interactive as possible, with Bruce open to questions–and advice!! You can email him at rtkchallenge@gmail.com. You can find out a whole lot more about Bruce and his adventure at his website, https://returningtokatahdin.com. Please sign up for his newsletter when you visit the page.  We're also so grateful to have the support of Trailtopia as our title sponsor for both this show and Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail. Not only are Trailtopia generously sponsoring our shows, they are also offering two packs of their awesome hiker meals to a lucky winner each and every show. All you have to do is email Steve at steve@mightyblueontheat.com with the question you'd most like to ask Bruce as he prepares for and sets out on his journey. If you'd like to see the wide range of delicious products available to hikers, head over to Trailtopia's website. Next week, we'll be talking with Bruce about the decisions he has already made for his hike. Why NOBO and why February?