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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.

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All Episodes

01:42:09

Episode #453 - Paula Martin (Windeagle)

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

2024/10/03

We have a very different show this week, with Paula Martin, or Windeagle, sharing her dramatic survival from a bad accident that may well have killed her. Several years later, Paula had recovered and decided that an Appalachian Trail thru-hike was something she could achieve. She ultimately summited Katahdin two years later, but her story is one of grit and resilience. She also shares a story about how a bear got a little bit close and personal with her tent. See the picture below. After Paula,

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01:02:31

Episode #452 - John Pearson (Magellan)

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

2024/09/26

We have another recent Appalachian Trail successful thru-hiker as our guest today. For many, the AT is a years-long dream, but for John Pearson, or Magellan, he had no idea he’d be hiking the trail until Christmas last year. Through a bit of trial and error, allied to a fierce determination, John made it to Katahdin in less than five and a half months. You can see more of John’s hike on Facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/AJohnPearson/. In our Mighty Blue Class of 2025, Michael Gaasch has

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01:21:31

Episode #451 - Kim Shoop (Gator)

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

2024/09/19

We have a really accomplished young woman on the podcast today, with Kim Shoop, or Gator, sharing her story about section hiking the entire Triple Crown in just eight years. She has a very self-deprecating way about her, yet she is clearly a determined person to be able to achieve multiple long hikes, having to start again and again to fulfill her dream. Fully in love with backpacking, Kim also decided that the Palmetto Trail needed a bit more information than was publicly available, so she put

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01:30:48

Episode #450 - Larry Ripari (Bird)

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

2024/09/12

Larry Ripari, fresh from his recent completion of not only an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, but also the hiking Triple Crown, shares his story with us this week. Larry became Bird on trail, a persona he was happy to assume, yet one he is now leaving behind. He is full of insights on all three trails, sharing his knowledge and even his budget as he successfully negotiated them all. You can check out Larry on social media on Instagram at Instagram (@ohreallylar) and on YouTube at Hiker Larry Our

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01:36:31

Episode #449 - Mighty Blue Class of 2024

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

2024/09/05

We’re catching up with all five members of our Mighty Blue Class of 2014 this week, so each of them will update us on where they are and their coming plans. There are no real notes this week for the class, just their latest pictures of them all having a blast!! Anita (Moxie) Bobby (Sloggy) David (Professor Milkshake) Sondra (Lemonade) Michael (No Rush the Elder) Also today, we meet Bill and Donna Milsten, owners of The Green Dragon Hostel in Hiawasee. You can reach out to them on their website

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01:31:07

Episode #448 - Sarah Zettler (Cricket)

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

2024/08/29

Sarah Zettler is our guest today. Sarah is a teacher, and has had to fit her six-year section hike of the Appalachian Trail into her summer vacation as a teacher. She even incorporates the trail into her school lesson plans to further engage her students. She felt called to do this hike and, once it was in her heart, she worked out a plan to get it done. A dramatic fall on one of the river crossings in the north led to a rescue by the Emergency Rescue team from Androscoggin. These selfless people

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01:16:14

Episode #447 - Georgetta Frederick (Trail Mama)

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

2024/08/22

Georgetta Frederick finished her Appalachian Trail thru-hike just a few weeks ago, at the beginning of August. You can hear that she still has the joy of the trail in her voice as she shares her journey with us all. You can follow Georgetta on social media, on Facebook at Trail Mama Hikes | Johnstown PA, and on YouTube at Trail Mama Hikes. We also talk about her guided tours in the Laurel Highlands, in PA. If you’d be interested in joining one of those tours, check out her website for more

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01:32:29

Episode #446 - Dr Daniel Warren on Lyme Disease

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

2024/08/15

Dr Daniel Warren is our guest this week, with a subject very close to the heart of a hiker; Lyme Disease. I try my best to pick his brain and learn a little bit more about this pernicious disease, which is on the rise throughout the country. He sent me several papers to inform my questions, so I believe that you’ll gain a lot from our conversation. If you have any questions about this conversation, email me at steve@hikingradionetwork.com and I’ll forward your question to Daniel. If you’d like to

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01:33:37

Episode #445 - Nick Kindred (Sgt Pepper)

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

2024/08/08

We have a NASA guy on the show today. Nick Kindred worked on the Artemis Program, and when he was able to retire, he set his sights on completing his Appalachian Trail adventure of a number of years by finishing the rest of it in a 1200 mile LASH from Harpers Ferry to Katahdin. Nick’s thoughtful observations, and his conversations with his wife about the extended separation on trail, should give pause to those who haven’t considered the impact of lengthy separations on their own adventures. He

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01:38:17

Episode #444 - Heidi Nisbett (Sketch)

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

2024/08/01

Today, we’re looking at the Allegheny Trail, with Heidi Nisbett talking about her contribution to the trail’s 50th anniversary. Heidi is an accomplished artist who captures the trail in all its glory, sharing her hiking (and drawing) journey with us. I saw several of Heidi’s drawings some months ago, and was struck by how evocative they were. When she wrote to me about the project she was doing with the Allegheny Trail, it seemed the perfect time to have her on the show. If you want to find out

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01:25:38

Episode #443 - Glenn Van Peski (G Squared)

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

2024/07/25

Our guest today is Glen Van Peski, a man who made a significant contribution to the ultralight backpacking movement when he founded Gossamer Gear. It takes an engineer to work out the problems of heavy gear, and Glen’s engineering skills and natural curiosity made backpacking easier for all of us. He’s written a book about the many life lessons he has learned from a life outdoors, mixing moments from his life in with these lessons, making the book extremely accessible for hikers of all ages. You

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01:41:36

Episode #442 - Linda McAbee (Castaway)

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

2024/07/18

We have another packed show today, with an interview that is quite unlike any I have ever done before. Linda McAbee wrote to me and told me her own harrowing story that, fortunately, worked out in the end, though it could have taken a far worse turn. Despite that outcome, her story is a salutary lesson in the dangers of being in the woods with no means of navigation. I’m sure she’ll be fully prepped on her upcoming hike on the Buckeye Trail. At the same time, Linda’s ordeal proved her perseverance

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01:38:50

Episode #441 - Florence Bradley (Fireflo)

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

2024/07/11

We have a retired firefighter on the show today. Florence Bradley had been wanting to hike the Appalachian Trail for some time, waiting until retirement to get to it. But it drew on all her resources as she got injured several times, even breaking a foot along the way. She returned earlier this year, in an attempt to finish her last 300 miles in time to be able to record a 12-month AT hike. You can see more of Florence on Facebook at Florence Bradley and on Instagram at Instagram (@ffireflo). We

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01:23:22

Episode #440 - Martin Pazzani

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

2024/07/04

Today, we welcome Martin Pazzani to the podcast. Martin is a true outdoorsman, having hiked and climbed in all seven continents. He’s parlayed that experience with his involvement in the fitness business, and an intellectual curiosity about the scientific benefits of simply getting outside and walking uphill. Those of us who have hiked extensively can identify with Martin’s conclusions, yet he presents it in such an accessible way that I’m sure you’ll enjoy being informed and entertained in equal

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01:17:23

Episode #439 - Casey Huffman (Vegas)

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

2024/06/27

I’m back from the UK and am eager to bring more great guests for you. First, though, I want to thank all of you who reached out to me while I was away. Your concern for my welfare was more than touching. I’m forever grateful to my listeners. Today, our main guest is Casey Huffman, AKA Vegas. Casey hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2023, and he shares his story with an infectious enthusiasm which, he’ll concede, may not have been there when he set out on his adventure. A solo hiker, and somewhat

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27:53

Episode #426 - South West Coast Path (Days 15-17)

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

2024/05/02

I’m into my third week on the trail and still spending most nights indoors. The first two weeks were always going to be that way, with John, then Richard and Wendy as part of my hike, yet the weather has intervened in this third week. Hopefully, the weather is about to turn and I’ll be able to camp outside a bit more. I’m using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serve for over

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46:09

Episode #425 - South West Coast Path (Days 11-14)

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

2024/04/29

I’m using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by visiting https://parentingmattersfl.org/eventer/hike-with-steve-empowering-parents-one-step-at-a-time/edate/2024-04-15/. And, maybe, you’ll get a personal picture of me thanking you with your name etched in the sand during my hike. I hope

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22:43

Episode #424 - South West Coast Path (Days 8-10)

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

2024/04/25

The last three days have tested me yet again, though I’m pretty much on schedule. A schoolboy error on my part led to a very low energy day, though meeting dear friends at the end of the day more than made up for it. I’m using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by visiting

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46:43

Episode #423 - South West Coast Path (Days 4-7)

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

2024/04/22

The first week has been unexpected, exciting, and even a little scary. I’m now 80 miles into the hike and just starting to feel that I’m finding my way. John has returned home, as originally planned, and the tenor of the hike has shifted as I’m on my own. I’ve been overwhelmed by the beauty of this hike, I’ve been surprised by the difficulty, and I start week two excited by the prospect of the time I’ll be spending with dear friends later in the week. I’m using my hike in the UK on the South West

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33:28

Episode 422 - South West Coast Path (Days 1-3)

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

2024/04/18

The first three days of my South West Coast Path hike are in the books. Unfortunately, my notes weren’t in the books! I somehow lost them, so this first podcast is a little thin on detail, though full of my heart. I hope you enjoy it. I’m using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by

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