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

We're in damp Vermont right now, with the mud and water making things a touch more tricky. The trail continues to be challenging, with the sure knowledge that it is only going to get tougher going forward.

Along the way, I met a bunch of very happy SOBOs; Fruitbag, Slip, Plus One, and Flossy.their enthusiasm for the trail left quite the mark on me.

I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru-hike...

With record amounts of rainfall this week in Massachusetts, Nuke and I decided to wait it out during a zero day in Lee. Once we got back on trail the following day, we had to cope with swollen stream crossings that soaked us, as well as paths that became streams. During all of this I managed to fall a couple of time, of course.

Along the way, I chatted with Nat Geo, Dash, and the wonderful Renée.

It's been another week of concern over my recent falls, but also one where I've had to manage my hike more proactively. I had a zero day in an attempt to reset and, by and large, I'm happy with how the past few days have gone.

Along the way, I had a good conversation with a hiker's mother, Ann who, like all mothers, was concerned for her daughter's safety on trail.

In addition, I met Cait, or Fester, who is out here in a transitio...

With the rocks finding new ways to hurt me, I'm falling a little too often for comfort. I'm now into Massachusetts, so I know that the rocks will only grow more vicious as I head north. I need to work out what's happening before I hurt myself really badly.

Along the way, I had conversations with some fellow travelers. First, I met Brian, or B.

Then, I ran into two indomitable young women, Moose and Princess, out on their own epic ...

I'm into Connecticut now, with the terrain a little more benign than the past few weeks. Added to this, I'm on a bit of a slackpacking run with my friend, Dr Lynne, so my progress is good.

i wasn't able to snag any other thru-hikers these past few days for interviews, though Lynne and I chatted about something I'd asked about last week.

I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru-hike this year. If you'd like to follow my progre...

Smoke from Canada and heat have conspired to test me this week, though it was the smoke that was likely more dangerous. That said, another state, New Tork, will be in the rear view mirror by this Tuesday.

Along the way, I interviewed Bobo and Timberdoodle, as well as Jack, who is definitely looking for a trail name of his own.

I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru-hike this year. If you'd like ...

It's been another steamy few days that have fully exhausted me. Miles have become harder due to my tiredness, not the terrain. I'm hoping a change in the weather will revive me once more.

Along the way, I chatted with Mom, Opera, and son Sedimentary, or Sed.

I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru-hike this year. If you'd like to follow my progress between episodes, as well as photos of my journ...

This week has given me several days of slackpacking, with generous listeners helping me out so freely. I couldn't have been more humbled to have been helped in this way.

Along the way, I ran into a friend from 2019, Robbie, as well as his hiking partner, Starr. Also, one of my slackpacking friends, Steve, shared the story of his AT attempt a couple of years ago.

I'm using Polarsteps to record my...

After the heat of last week, the temperatures have fallen and rain is starting to wash out the air. I've continued to put in the miles, including another 20-mile day that enabled me to get out of Pennsylvania. As a wise man once said, Pennsylvania sucks, but the people are great.

Along the way, I managed to interview an incredibly shy Marley Joy, who headed up a group of wonderful Amish women to give us trail magic at the Lookout H...

Our sweltering weather hit us hard this week, with a couple of days above 100°. Despite the searing heat, I've been able to maintain my mileage goals. The rocks have slowed me, though Pennsylvania hasn't been as bad as I recalled-fortunately!!

Along the way, I chatted with Tig (Travis is good) about his thru-hike, as well as Bern, or Yardsale from the wonderful Lookout Hostel. Unfortunately, I forgot to take Bern's picture.

We're facing a tough week or two of excessive heat, with this week the fiercest so far. With temperatures up in the late 90s and early 100s, I have to take this seriously.

I've had to curtail my mileage but I still hope to walk sufficent miles to keep up my average.

This week, I caught up with a young lady named Zoo as well as the owner of the Stay at Swatara hostel, Eric.

I'm using Polarsteps to r...

The miles continue to pile up, with a twenty-mile day this week. It's true that the terrain is particularly conducive to twenty-mile plus days, yet I've been surprised at the speed at which I've been able to get back into the hike.

I was only able to get one interview with other hikers these past few days; my old friend Bounce Da Hiker, who I met on my 2019 thru-hike. It was terrific to catch up with him.

I'm using Polarsteps to r...

I've been upping the mileage this week and am back to the levels I was achieving prior to my shin splints. I know, I need to be careful, but it is clear that I don't lose my "legs" during my enforced stoppage.

This week, I ran into several new faces as well as some old faces. I interviewed Dennis the shuttle driver, Paddle and Lucky Charms after their successful Four State Challenge, and Nuke, who just started his flip flop a week ...

At last, I'm back on trail, choosing Harper's Ferry as my start point to launch my hike to get to Katahdin before October.

These first few days back on trail have been testing, as I knew they would be, but I've been pleasantly surprised at how well my body has switched back into hike mode, given the three weeks I've been back home.

This week, I only managed to interview one other hiker, Breadcrumbs, who gave me an insightful conver...

This is a bit of a transition episode for the podcast. I wanted to talk about going back to the trail this week, but there isn't a great deal to say about it that I haven't already said. So this week I sat down and recorded a few reflections on what I've learned in forests and on mountains over the past twelve years.

It's a little bit rough and ready, and I did it with the barest of notes, but I hope that several of the things I t...

Today, Greg Fisher takes us back to the Appalachian Trail in the 1960s, when he and two other 16-year-olds took a 17-day hike on the trail in New Hampshire, taking in the awesome Franconia Ridge along the way.

For Greg, that led to a more than 50 year love of the trail that continues to this day. He shares his stories with Steve as he looks back on that long histo...

As I did before when I finished the Appalachian Trail in 2019, I got a friend of mine, Glenn Hebert, from the Horse Radio Network, to debrief me following my decision to leave the trail last Thursday. It never feels good to report upon something which you've been unable to complete but, as you'll hear, I have a plan!!

My disappointment at not finishing what I set ...

A whole bunch of zeroes as I try to recover from the recent injury to my leg. I've been patient and rested my leg, but the arrival of new Oboz shoes to replicate as closely as possible the sole of my previous boots, puts me close to returning to trail this coming Thursday.

Bring it on!

Along the way, I managed to grab conversations with Dumb Enough, Grateful, and Blarney Fife at Weary Feet Hostel.

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A bit of a critical week to recap today, with an injury that landed me in the Emergency Room in Pearisburg. I'm currently off trail but working on getting back to trail in the coming days. Wish me well!!

I also found time to chat with a couple of guys I've met on trail; Big John and Baloo.

I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru-hike this year. If you'd like to follow my progress between episodes...