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

Episode #578 - Days 150-153 Appalachian Trail 2026

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, or Tent Stakes, another NOBO, as well as Do Good, also a NOBO.

I'm using

Download episode

Recent Episodes

View all

Episode #578 - Days 150-153 Appalachian Trail 2026

578

Sept. 14, 2026

Episode #578 - Days 150-153 Appalachian Trail 2026

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, or Tent Stakes, another NOBO, as well as Do Good, also a NOBO. I'm using

Listen to the Episode

Episode #577 - Days 147-149 Appalachian Trail 2026

577

Sept. 10, 2026

Episode #577 - Days 147-149 Appalachian Trail 2026

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

Listen to the Episode

Episode #576 - Days 143-146 Appalachian Trail 2026

576

Sept. 7, 2026

Episode #576 - Days 143-146 Appalachian Trail 2026

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 bump into some fellow thru-hikers once more. I'm using Polarsteps

Listen to the Episode

Episode #575 - Days 139-142 Appalachian Trail 2026

575

Sept. 3, 2026

Episode #575 - Days 139-142 Appalachian Trail 2026

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 year. If you'd like to follow my progress between episodes, as well as photos of my journey, please go to ht

Listen to the Episode

Episode #574 - Days 136-138 Appalachian Trail 2026

574

Aug. 31, 2026

Episode #574 - Days 136-138 Appalachian Trail 2026

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

Listen to the Episode

Episode #573 - Days 133-135 Appalachian Trail 2026

573

Aug. 27, 2026

Episode #573 - Days 133-135 Appalachian Trail 2026

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 thru-hike this year. If you'd like to follow my progress between episodes, as well as photos of m

Listen to the Episode

Episode #572 - Days 129-132 Appalachian Trail 2026

572

Aug. 24, 2026

Episode #572 - Days 129-132 Appalachian Trail 2026

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 share a bit of a teaser for a show about nutrition that I will

Listen to the Episode

Episode #571 - Days 126-128 Appalachian Trail 2026

571

Aug. 20, 2026

Episode #571 - Days 126-128 Appalachian Trail 2026

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 flip flop had gone so far. I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT th

Listen to the Episode

View all Episodes

About the Host

Steve Adams (Mighty Blue)

Author / Podcaster / Speaker

I'm Steve Adams, or Mighty Blue, and I'm the MOST unlikely hiker you could imagine. I spent more than 40 years in the insurance business, in London, Bermuda, New York, and Florida. I sold my insurance business in 2013 to prepare an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, something I'd had at the #1 spot on my Bucket List for years. To my great surprise–and the shock of many of my friends–I did it, summitting Katahdin just over six months after I'd set out.
Eventually, after plenty of stopping and starting, I managed to complete my AT book(s) and started this podcast. More than five years in, we've published nearly 300 episodes of the podcast.
In 2018, my niece and I completed the Camino de Santiago in Spain, then in 2019 I went on my second successful AT thru-hike.