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

Virginia is providing us with spectacularly beautiful views and leaf-peeping, as well as some of the wettest and hottest days of this trip. Along with that, the hiking is challenging but definitely doable. The really good news is that I'm on target to finish this hike on my 74th birthday.

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

These past four days have been spent hiking with Nate, and in the last couple of days, we have been blessed by our personal trail angel, Katie Westling. We're crushing the miles and I'm now just 236 miles from the end.

Along the way, I met Leah, or Piph, a cousin of a former guest, Chrissy Funk.

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

I'm now in a tramily of two, having been joined by my buddy, Nate for a few weeks. We're in Shenandoah and loving the smooth ride the trail gives us, not to mention the occasional wayside at which to stock up on calories.

Along the way, I caught up with, if only temporarily, Slomo, a fast hiker putting in 25-30 mile days.

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

Sorry for the delay in getting this out to you. Suffice it to say that I've had one or two technical issues!! I'm nearly a week into the SOBO part of my Appalachian Trail hike this year and the pieces are falling into place for my desire to finish this hike on my 74th birthday at the end of October.

Along the way, I chatted with hostel and B&B owners, Scott and Lisa, as well as the only Latvians I've ever met!!

There is a bit of everything in today's show, with an epic Katahdin day, a dicey travel day, and my first day heading south, out of Harper's Ferry.

Along the way, I got T-time and Hugh to share their experiences up on the greatest mountain.

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 journey, ple...

The 100 Mile Wilderness and the impending weather changed our plans several times this week. So, instead of taking nine days to get through it, we pushed on and got out in 7 days.

Then, last Saturday, we reached Baxter State Park and stayed at Katahdin Stream Campground before our summit day on Sunday. Sadly, this episode covers from Wednesday until Saturday, so you'll have to wait until next time to hear how it went on Sunday. Spo...

It's been a long time coming, with cell service almost non-existent in the 100 Mile Wilderness, but I'm at last able to bring you Thursday's podcast. This covers our foray into the wilderness with our full packs for the first time. It's been a blast.

Along the way, I met Detour, a fellow NOBO, as well as the remarkable Crutches, whose name gives you a clue!

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

We've reached Shaw's in Monson, AND done the first 30 miles of the 100 Mile Wilderness. Maine continues to impress us, with stiff climbs and stunning views. It has become my favorite state on the Appalachian Trail. Oh yes, and I managed to go more than two miles the wrong way the other day. Oops!

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

The three days from Sunday saw a nearo, a zero, and a near 15-miler. All part of the magic of an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. But I'm currently in Monson and ready to take on the 100 Mile Wilderness.

Along the way, I spoke with Andrew, or Detour, a fellow Brit on the verge of completing his own AT journey. Unfortunately , I forgot to take his photo! I was also lucky enough to run into my friend from the 2014 hike, Molli McCarthy, a...

We lost one of our tramily this week, as Nuke pushed forward to achieve his summit several days before us in order to honor a friend back home. With much of the difficulty of Maine behind us—and Katahdin our only big climb ahead of us—we now have our plan settled for a September 29 finish, completing a circle, as that is the date I summited 12 years ago.

Along the way, I spoke with Brandon, a late SOBO thru-hiker, Lacie...

After our Slackpack Palooza into Rangely, we resumed our full packs for the three day hike to Stratton. It had been wonderful to have been so cosseted by our friends, Sherpa and Rita, but it was time to get back in the woods and camp at tentsites.

Along the way, I ran into Mel, leading a project to maintain integrity of the trail, and Chris, the new owner, along with his mother, of the Maine Roadhouse.

A four day slackpack Palooza!! Staying with friends for four nights and having them slackpacking you is a treat, and that is exactly what we've been doing for the last four days. We've enjoyed the reduced load and put in about 50 miles; it's great to be making progress.

Unfortunately, we've been in our own bubble because of this and I haven't found people to interview. We'll be with our full packs this coming week and I hope to bum...

We're into Maine now and if we thought we'd left our difficult days in the past, we were sorely mistaken. My ass has continued to be kicked and The Mahoosuc Notch revealed a lethal side in the wet. It's been quite the experience so far.

Along the way, we found a new member of our tramily, in T-Time, as well as a young man named Badger.

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

The miles have been cut back drastically, yet we are on the verge of leaving New Hampshire behind and entering Maine. It has been both glorious and difficult, a challenge I expected, yet probably underestimated.

Along the way, I was able to chat with Lisa, one of the new owners of the Libby House, Evie, the caretaker at the Imp Tentsite, and Baptist, a foraging SOBO, who shares a few mushroom secrets.

New Hampshire has taken its toll on our weekly mileage, but the beauty and difficulty of the trail up here is staggering in both regards. My memory is also getting a bit of a workout, as I'm seeing the trail with fresh eyes that don't always comport with my previous two thru-hikes.

along the way, I spoke with Ron, or Real Estate, a guy we've been hiking around.

I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT...

New Hampshire has been doing New Hampshire things, like kicking my butt, giving me spectacular daily views, and providing Nuke and me with some of the best hiking of this trip so far. The Kinsman's and Franconia Ridge are now in the rear view mirror, with the Presidential Range still to come.

Along the way, my exhaustion at the end of the day has limited my interviews, though I do have a friend, Mike Innes, on the show this week to...

We're not only pushing through New Hampshire, but we've reached the spot where the rubber meets the road; namely, Mt Moosilauke, the first of the 4000-footers that we climb. It was an exhilarating climb, yet one well within my capabilities.

Along the way, I chatted with Nuke, my hiking partner who I first interviewed just after Caledonia State Park, in Pennsylvania. I wanted him to give his impressions of Moosilauke and how his fli...

We're at last in New Hampshire, and the drama is ramping up, with longer, higher, and more intense climbs. From previous experience, I know that I've only done the easiest section of New Hampshire so far, but I'm ready to embrace Moosilauke by the time we meet next time.

one morning, in a shelter on a rainy day, I managed to speak with a young couple out on a thru-hike, Moss Man and Chapstick, while also engaging in conversation wi...

A very short episode today, with just three days to report and no interviews. Such are the problems of reporting from a trail with limited WiFi opportunities!!

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 journey, please go to https://www.polarsteps.com/mightyblue and click on the follow button.