Episodes

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 conversations with Jeff Davis, a new hostel owner, and Ben Steere, ...

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 follow my progress between episodes, as well as photos of my journey, please go to https://www.polar...

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. I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru-hike this year. If you'd like t...

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

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 website at wherethehelliscarl.com. Also this week, we meet a guy...

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 is staggering to see. I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru...

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 like to follow my progress between episodes, as well as photos of my journey, please go to https:...

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

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 chatted with a ridge runner, Houdini, who shared a few tips wit...

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

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 going to be a another important week. I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru-hike this...

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

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 to think of and memories to cherish. This week, I was lucky eno...

Now a week into the hike, I've gotten into my stride and my body is holding up under the pressure. Already, the "feel" of the trail is as welcoming as it was the last time I went, and I'm feeling right at home. The fact that the weather has been kind to us is a massive bonus. This recap covers last Sunday thru Tuesday, ending at Dick's Creek Gap, about 70 miles in. Amanda Aguillard invited me into her home, along with Dan, I guy I'd been hiking around, and she wqas the perfect hostess, running...

I'm back on trail and getting back into the swing of things. This episode tracks days 3 to 6 after my return to the AT. I'm telling my story, along with those of the people I meet. This week, I spoke with Olivia Neal of the Hidden Pond Hostel and Sarah Lopez, or Maybelline, (on the right) who is attempting her own AT thru-hike. 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://ww...

This short episode brings everybody up to date with how I got to the trail, then, how I left it, followed by my plans to get back to it. I never do anything the easy way!!! 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. I used my hike in 2024 on the South West Coast Path in the UK to help raise money for my absolute...

We have a husband and wife hiking duo on the show today. Mosey and Sourpatch hiked the Appalachian Trail last year, needing to get it done before Sourpatch’s eye condition deteriorated further. On the way, they found purpose in several ways, with Mosey on the logistics as Sourpatch carried a bunch of military dog tags on to Katahdin. Summiting Katahdin on 9/11 with two previous guests of the podcast–Tony Roddy (Silverback) and Rob Diamond (Dog Tag)–gave extra meaning to their hike. You can che...

Tom Bennett, or Porkie is today’s guest. Tom had an epic adventure on the Long Trail in Vermont, sharing with us the family connection he has to the trail. It wasn’t a straightforward hike, with serious injury and recovery, plus dramatic floods punctuating his efforts over two years. He remained resilient and completed his mission after his various mishaps. Tim also wrote a blog of his journey for the Trek, which you can read here at Tim Bennett, Author at The Trek . He has now written a book ...

Michael Neiman, who, along with Bruce Matson, brought us Platinum Blazing to the trail, is our guest this week. Michael thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018, and his new book tells that story–as a 98% true novel. Michael, or Sharkbait has been juggling a job, parenthood, and his writing to bring this book to publication, and it’s a good read, with plenty of page turning moments. You can check out the book at his website, Hello Neiman, or on Amazon at Hello My Name is Sharkbait: A 2,000-Mil...

We welcome Rob Diamond to the show today. I met Rob in 2024 in Hot Springs, when we went and tried to help out after Hurricane Helene. Rob told me then that he was planning on a 2025 thru-hike, so I asked him then to follow up with me once he was done. Rob’s hike didn’t turn out as he had expected, yet he battled through innumerable obstacles as he made his way to Katahdin, eventually summiting on his intended summit date of 9/11. On the way, Rob raised awareness of the scourge of suicide amon...

Savannah Schuring, or Snazzy Cat, took on an Appalachian Trail thru-hike–which she completed in a remarkable three months–as her graduate thesis. On the way, she was interviewing hikers as to their motivations to be out on the trail and learned so much from them, and about herself, with some fascinating conclusions. Savannah always loved the outdoors and, indeed, was a long-distance runner, but she came to love long hikes and completed her Triple Crown. Her new book, Between the Miles, is avai...

Today, we meet an AT thru-hiker from the Class of 2015 who went on to buy and run a hostel near the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Erin Tuveson, or Bookie, became so enamored of the trail that she wanted to be around the community she met out there. Erin now owns and runs the Rambling Roots Hostel, bringing her AT knowledge to bear as she puts together the kind of place she loved when she was hiking. You can learn more about Erin and her hostel at her website Rambling Roots Hostel. Additionally, yo...

This week, Tony Roddy joins the podcast. Tony walked across America in 2015, vowing to do one of the long-distance American trails ten years later. His original choice was the CDT, but a last-minute change took him to the Appalachian Trail, where he relished his experience. Tony used his time on the AT to raise funds for autism, an affliction close to home in his family. He also raised funds for the Make A Wish Foundation on his walk across America ten years ago. You can see more of Tony on hi...

We meet a member of the Class of 2012 this week, who happens also to be a member of this years class of 2026. In fact, Todd Sears is starting the day after I start, in March this year. He had a long career in military intelligence, and brings a military discipline to his hike, both back in 2012 and in his plans for this year. I should be meeting him very early on as he will doubtless breeze past me at speed. You can read about his earlier hike from a blog that he wrote; Nor'easter's 2012 Appal...