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

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.

...

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...

I've reached the quarterway point of the Application Trail, and am getting dark thoughts about the weather in the next few months. It is already unseasonably warm, so June through August should be pretty alarming when they arrive.

i now have a plan of completing 86 miles per week that would get me to Katahdin by the very end September. It means I'll have to up my game a bit, but I feel that now is the time.

Along the way these past...

A bit of a break for me this time. It is mid May, and that means Trail Days in Damascus. Dave Santi and his buddies picked me up from about 60 trail miles north of Damascus and brought me back to their Airbnb. What a treat!

So I was able to rest for much of the three days of the event AND buy some replacement shows. We'll see how much benefit I get from both of these things in the next couple of days.

along the way, I recorded conv...

This week, I had my first experience of substantial rain, with the hike out of Damascus. This took us through a 20 mile detour which turned out to be very benign, compared with the previous detour several miles back.

Along the way, I spoke with Alan Roberts, or Wizard, who was hiking with his 15-year-old son, Blood Foot.

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

 Early seven weeks in and a weakness is appearing. My feet are starting to get to me everyday, with my boots clearly too small and my toes all getting bruised as a result. I hope to be able to resolve the issue with a new pair of size 15s by Trail Days, next week.

My days are getting into the 16 mile realm, with two consecutive days at that mark.

Along the way I interviewed Loretta and Morgan Dewey, as well as Kyla Wing.

These last three days started with the vast, glittering openness of the balds in the Roan Highlands, then sent me back into the forest for a night camping by myself and a new hostel discovery. This is such a diverse trail.

Also, I was lucky enough to run into Uncle Fuzzy and Nono, each a new character to discover and I enjoyed their company.

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

Miraculously, the weather continues to cooperate as yet another four days pass without a minute walking in the rain! I'm in the Roan Highlands and coping well with both uphills and downhills; long may my body cooperate on this trail.

This week, I also managed to talk with Carl, or Fresh, who experienced some of the serendipity on the trail to find his hiking partner. If you're interested in learning more about Carl, check out his w...

I'm starting to manage aspects of my hike in a way I hadn't done so before now. Everything seems to have its own place, and each thing that arises during the day is another piece of the hike to be managed.

My pace is starting to increase, as is my mileage. I'm also being reintroduced the wonders of the South; the balds. At the same time, I'm beginning to see startling evidence of the destruction wrought by Helene two years ago. It ...

Into month two with the miles increasing, I'm truly living in the woods now. Life seems to have become more feral, and the simplicity of my life agrees with my temperament right now.

My loneliness seems to have gone away as I'm spending more time with others, and this week we hear from Bright Spot and Wolf, who I met along the way.

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

Dana came to visit me for a zero day this week. The Smokies are over and a record I hoped to beat while I was there remains intact!!

Even with a relaxing zero with my love, I still had to prepare for my return to the trail the following day, so there is always plenty to do; even on zeroes.

i managed to record Dana's reaction to seeing me as well as a conversation I had with a young German couple  

The Smokies are all but done, with glorious weather all the way with just one day to go. I think I was more concerned about them than I should have been, but it has been a pure pleasure to be hiking above the clouds at 5-6,000 feet all day long.

This recap covers last Wednesday thru Saturday, when I navigated the perils of Newfound Gap, needing to get to Gatlinburg, yet stay in Cherokee. Happily it all worked out.

Along the way, I ...

Into the Smokies this week for what feels like the end of the beginning. Cell service has been spotty at best, so getting this done a few hours late seems like a win!

While recapping my own adventures, I also got the chance to sit down and chat with Doug and Laura, or Smokey and Candy Corn. I didn't get a picture of Candy Corn, but this is Doug.

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

The three days from NOC to Fontana Dam were my toughest section so far. I made it, but the difficulty shook my confidence a bit. 
The walk down into NOC was a totally different story, for one specific reason, which you'll learn today. 
Along the way, I met more great people and they shared their stories with me, including Sue Powell (Sweet Tears) and Henry Southall (Hot Tang). 

With the Smokies next, this is ...

Into the third week on trail and my first zero day, spent in Franklin, NC. The weather remains atypically unusual, with sun and great hiking conditions leading us on.
this week I spoke with Fancy, from Fancy's Place, as well as Chica and Sunsets with their hiking experience and super Airbnb. I was unable to get a photo of Fancy, but here is one with me and Chica and Sunsets. 

I'm...

Nearly two weeks in and I feel I'm hiking stronger than ever. These past four days were testing but I think I came through most of the tests.

the feeling of community out here, in these early stages, has been something I was hoping for, yet those hopes have been exceeded every day.

Along the way, I've met and spoken with loads of fellow hikers, hostel owners, day hikers and so on. Each encounter has provided me with something new t...