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PODCAST

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

An overweight, 61-year-old retiree, with zero hiking experience, decided to hike the entire 2,185.3 mile length of the Appalachian Trail in 2014. What could possibly go wrong? As his brother, Mike, commented, "It"s a bit like taking up boxing and fighting Mike Tyson in your first bout." Join Steve and his guests as they discuss all aspects of the trail, from gear to Lyme Disease, then back to trail magic and injury.

sports wilderness

All Episodes

01:29:51

Episode #473 - JC Van Etten (Catmando) Triple Crowner

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2025/02/27

JC Van Etten, or Catmando returns to the show. We first met him on the Appalachian Trail a few years ago, I seem to have missed him on the PCT, but caught up with him again after his Continental Divide Trail thru-hike last year to complete his Triple Crown. Cat is a great raconteur, sharing plenty of advice through our conversation, as well as recording some of the epic sights he was able to see out on the CDT. One of those epic sights was a chance encounter with four grizzly bears which,

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01:18:40

Episode #472 - David Alan Lane (Squarepeg)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2025/02/20

We meet David Alan Lane, aka Squarepeg, today. David has been sharing his trail experience extensively over the past few years on Facebook. He helps with all sorts of advice, including gear and what to eat out on trail. It’s a cherished resource for hikers. Now, David has put together another Facebook page that is ambitious in its scope. He has formed Slackpack the Appalachian Trail with Squarepeg, and will shortly be heading north on a big slackpack that will have members drop in and drop out

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01:12:44

Episode #471 - Tina Tempest (Chunky)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2025/02/13

We have Tina Tempest on the show today. Tina, or Chunky, completed a SOBO thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2009. The trail had such an impact upon her life, that she and her husband, Brett, ultimately opened the Quarter Way Inn, a hostel near Marion, Virginia. Tina’s breakfast at the hostel is the stuff of legend! But it is one of her side businesses that we’re talking about today, as Tina is the owner of Bead By Bead Adventures, producing necklaces for many of the long distance trails,

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01:05:23

Episode #470 - Nick Thatcher (Hotfoot)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2025/02/06

Our main guest today is Nick Thatcher, who I found when he posted an epic Katahdin summit picture on Facebook. I hoped there would be more to his story than a December summit, so I reached out to him. He shared a story of determination and drive, culminating in that epic picture on the top of Katahdin. Nick made some intelligent choices for his hike that should inspire others in their own quest to fulfill an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. His calm demeanor will impress you. You can follow him on

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01:20:30

Episode #469 - Dr Lydia Kuhn (Tetris)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2025/01/30

Dr Lydia Kuhn joins us this week to talk about both her Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2020, and her CDT thru-hike last year, proving herself to be a “true badass.” She reminds us of the need to live your life on your terms, and not to be constrained by how others might want you to live your life. Lydia also shares some information on wilderness medicine that we should all pay attention to. Check out the link below to learn more. Home We hear again from Chris Casado of TSX Challenge, who gives us

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01:10:13

Episode #468 - David Kibiloski (Texas)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2025/01/23

David Kibiloski is our guest today. What starts as a story about his Appalachian Trail thru-hike, tracks his evolution into an AT hostel owner, then a 501(c)(3) with AT Kids, followed by Stumble Inn 2.0. It is a fascinating journey. You can follow David on his website, at The Stumble Inn and AT KIDS - A Perfect Partnership. We also started what I hope to be a bidding war for Smercomics, a political satire book that David owns (unopened), but he is willing to offer to the highest bidder from our

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54:47

Episode #467 - Al Marriott (Lookout) Triple Crowner

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2025/01/16

Today, we welcome back a friend of the show, a fellow Brit, Al Marriott. Al has already been on for his AT and PCT adventures, but last year he went and completed the CDT to complete his Triple Crown. He is always good value, with some wry observations about these trails and stories to share along the way. Here, you can check out his last day on the CDT. https://youtu.be/UbVsTHWtg5I Al has a thriving YouTube community with his channel, Adventure Together TV at Adventure Together , as

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54:21

Episode #466 - Collyn Nielsen (Doc) Hiker Trash Radio

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2025/01/09

We have a fellow hiking podcaster on the show today. Collyn Nielsen, known as Doc to his listeners, is the host of Hiker Trash Radio. The show was originally the John Freakin' Muir Podcast, but Doc extended its remit by re-branding to reach a wider audience, speaking to climbers, kayakers and others who spend their time in the outdoors. You can find his podcast on all the platforms, as well as at his website, hikertrashradio.com. Doc even turned the tables on me by interviewing me in a section

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01:05:01

Episode #465 - Wyly O'Brien (Calamity Jane)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2025/01/02

Wyly O’Brien, or Calamity Jane, is our guest today. Wyly attempted her thru-hike in 2007, researched the trail and her gear to give herself the best chance ot completing the hike, and began with a self-confidence that was ultimately shattered when she quit the trail after more than 1600 miles. Wyly shares her story of what happened and what she learned along the way. More than a decade later, Wyly found her journal and decided to write about her “failure,” offering tips on what she could have done

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01:01:28

Episode #464 - Beth Bakke Stenehjem and Dave Santi...

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/12/26

Today, we meet the two members of the Mighty Blue Class of 2025, with Beth Bakke Stenehjem and Dave Santi under the spotlight. Beth is my friend, having hiked twice with her, enjoying her sunny smile and encouraging manner. She’s heading out there at the end of March, with her stepson, Andrew. The two of them will make a terrific couple as they plough their way north. I’m looking forward to hearing their journey. Equally, Dave Santi is set up to succeed. Dave is from the West Coast, coming east to

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01:05:14

Episode #463 - Daniel Shaw (Team Whimsy)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/12/19

Daniel Shaw, of Team Whimsy, give us his view of some of the Hurricane Helene clean up and recovery, meeting people where they are, on their worst day ever, when they need someone to show up and help. It is a fascinating model for a 501c3 that can have countrywide effect, with a sign up to help within your own community and beyond. I hope that listening to Daniel will inspire you to click on the volunteer page and add your name to his list. You can find his website here https://www.teamwhimsy.org/

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01:05:16

Episode #462 - Jessica and Largo Sueiro (Sunshine and...

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/12/12

We’ve got a couple of free spirits on the show today, who happen to be mother and son. Jessica and Largo Sueiro, went on a big adventure this year; taking on the Appalachian Trail. As a family, they have lived unconventional lives, yet this half-year of mother and son bonding must have been precious to them both, combining their hiking, Largo’s school work, and his Dungeons & Dragons business along the way. Both are great conversationalists, so sit back and enjoy their story. If you’d like to see

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58:27

Episode #461 - John Turner (Raven)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/12/05

John Turner is an avid listener to our HRN podcasts and is a board member of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club–and a trail ambassador. John completed a five-year section hike in 2022, and is here to share his story with us. We have a wide-ranging chat; not only about his hike, but his work with GATC, and his new book, Killing the Buddha on the Appalachian Trail. John’s story is of a man who came late to our wonderful trail, and a man giving back to the trail he fell in love with. That’s quite a

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57:01

Episode #460 - Dave Fleischman (J.I.F.)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/11/28

This week, we welcome back Dave Fleischman, a trail maintainer and a newly minted Triple Crowner. Dave already had the PCT and the AT under his belt, after hikes back in the 90s. Suddenly, the opportunity arose to do the CDT, so he headed back out. On this Thanksgiving Day, it is worth being grateful for so many things, yet Dave personifies the selfless nature of trail maintainers, so let’s thank him for that. In our conversation, Dave refers to the Triple Crown ALDHA ceremony out west. Check it

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59:08

Episode #459 - Katie Westling (Phoenix)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/11/21

We’ve got a bit of a change of pace this week, with previous AT thru-hiker, Katie Westling, sharing her past year of adventures, with hikes in France, Ireland, and England. Katie started with the Tour du Mont Blanc last year, then headed over to Ireland for the Dingle Way this year, followed by Hadrian’s Wall Path soon after. Katie shares her hike with us, as well as a couple of links to organizations that helped her on her way. They are: Self-Guided Hiking & Biking Vacations | Macs Adventure

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52:24

Episode #458 - Frank Mularcik (Snowman)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/11/14

Frank Mularcik, who recently completed a 100-day SOBO thru-hike, is our guest today. Frank reached out to me a few weeks before he finished, then followed up once he reached Springer Mountain. You’ll be impressed by Frank’s can-do attitude, bringing a practicality to his hike that stood him in good stead. He discovered on the trail–as we all do–that faith in humanity that we may have thought was lost. Frank documented his hike by vlogging every night on trail, producing an impressive record that

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56:21

Episode #457 - George Eshleman (Keeper)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/11/07

It’s a slightly shorter show than usual this week, but it is about as powerful as any of my interviews have ever been. Our guest is George Eshleman, or Keeper, who hiked the Appalachian Trail with 363 nametags of military personnel who have committed suicide. George chose to do this in honor of his own friend and hiking partner, who had committed suicide. However, George had a secret of his own that he shared with nobody as he hit the trail. What happened next was sufficiently impactful to have

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01:07:26

Episode #456 - Hunter and John Rud (Hunter & JR)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/10/31

Another former guest returns to the show today, this time with his hiking partner, and Dad. Hunter and John Rud completed the CDT this year. For Hunter, it was the second leg of his own Triple Crown, but for John, it was his completed Triple Crown. They share their awesome experience. There is a lot of wisdom, both in hiking and in life, from these two, as they reminisce on what must have been an epic journey for this father and son to share. You can see more of their adventures on Instagram

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01:03:51

Episode #455 - Don Robinson - 900 Miler Award

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/10/24

We’re going to talk about the Great Smoky Mountains today, with Don Robinson sharing his love of the park, and his recent induction into the 900 Miler Club, having hiked all the trails in the Smokies. It’s a pretty exclusive club, with fewer than a thousand members, yet the logistics required to get this done would fry my brain! Don has provided me with links to the two books he suggests, should you wish to follow in his footsteps. Day Hiker's Guide to All the Trails in The Smoky Mountains and

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01:35:15

Episode #454 - Rob & Gavin Duncan (Waffle and Hawkeye)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate... ·

2024/10/17

We have a couple of returning guests today. Rob and Gavin Duncan attempted a thru-hike in 2019 and were forced off the trail due to injury. It was a bitter blow for a couple of guys who’d put in over 1300 miles. Gavin is now an 18-year-old, and both father and son wanted a do-over, starting again from Georgia. I’ve observed several father-son relationships on trail and would have loved to have had one of those myself, for the emotion of getting to Katahdin with your son (or your daughter, wife, or

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