x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

58:26

Episode #513 - Lisa Laidlow (High Viz)

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

2025/10/30

Lisa Laidlow came to the trail when she became an empty-nester. She had always been an outdoor girl–often along with her father–yet it was only fairly recently that she returned to hiking and discovered the idea of a thru-hike. As a black woman on the trail, she was embraced by hikers, though had a few uncomfortable encounters along the way. Despite these rare occasions, Lisa is a strong advocate of getting people of whatever color into the woods and on trails. You can follow Lisa on various

en

37:42

Episode #512 - James Dalberto (Nomad)

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

2025/10/23

James Dalberto, or Nomad, joins the podcast today. James has been an RV'er for the past few years, earning a living as a “starving artist” (his words) all over the country. This year, he decided to mix it up a bit and headed out onto the Appalachian Trail for a thru-hike. On the way, he fell back in love with the hiking community he discovered last year, and even found time to provide his fellow hikers with some trail magic of his own. You should check out James’s work on his Etsy site,

en

01:30:07

Episode #511 - The ALDHA Gathering - October 2025

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

2025/10/16

Very limited notes this month, mainly because I'm away and rushing to get this out on Wednesday evening!! It was an honor to be chosen to present the Saturday evening keynote speech at ALDHA last weekend. I picked my own guests–and subjects–and the event was not only well-attended but also well-received. First up was Mills Kelly, the well-known AT historian and podcast host of the Green Tunnel. Mills shared a story of how close we came to losing our beloved AT shelters back in the 70s. After

en

40:33

Episode #510 - Ken Posner (Barefoot Ken)

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

2025/10/09

We meet an unusual hiker this week. Ken Posner has been a long-distance runner and hiker over the years, yet he has gradually morphed into a barefoot runner and hiker. Ken and I discuss this–to me–bizarre footwear choice, and he makes a compelling case for the advantages of barefoot walking. Ken has also taken on the fascinating project of “The Grid” in New York’s Catskill Mountains, whereby he hikes each of over 30 mountains in every month of the year. This entails over 400 ascents, and the

en

46:59

Episode #509 - Chrissy and Ady Schubert

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

2025/10/02

Chrissy Schubert and her daughter Ady will be attempting a 250-mile section of the Appalachian Trail next year. No big deal, you may think. Think again. Ady is afflicted by profound autism, communicates through writing, and has a heart as big as the trail itself. The adversity that Ady and her family have overcome during her earlier years has strengthened their faith and helped so many others along the way. These links each tell a short story or speak to the way in which Ady is triumphing in life

en

01:08:36

Episode #508 - Woods Hole Weekend 2025

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

2025/09/25

This week, we have a little change of pace. I attended the Woods Hole weekend last week as a presenter, and I came away with friendships, more knowledge, and a decent amount of humble pie as I savored the experience. My Dana came with me and experienced a little of what I experience on trail. She hiked into our campsite at Dismal Falls, then camped for her first ever night in a tent in the woods, before hiking back out the following morning. Our sessions at Woods Hole were informative, and we

en

01:13:47

Episode #507 - Glenn Sweitzer (Wanderer)

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

2025/09/18

Glenn Sweitzer, designer and filmmaker, is our guest today. Glenn’s fascinating back story takes in working with Disney, designing artwork for Tim McGraw and others, then telling stories through film, before ending up on the Appalachian Trail, discovering and sharing stories along the way. Glenn is a natural raconteur with an eye for detail, and has produced an award-winning Appalachian Trail movie, Trail Mix, that is very evocative of my time out on trail, so there should be plenty for you all to

en

53:48

Episode #506 - Sandra Katerina Schmelzer Alvarez...

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

2025/09/11

Sandra Katerina Schmelzer Alvarez, or Peaches, completed her Appalachian Trail thru-hike last month. She is a single mother who managed her autistic son’s reaction to her hike by preparing him for a year before she left. The hike allowed her to see herself as not just a mother, embracing the hiking community and returning home to her son, Nico, with a new perspective on life and motherhood. You can follow Sandra and see plenty of her thru-hike photographs on Facebook at

en

54:07

Episode #505 - Roxanne Strine (Idiot Runner)

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

2025/09/04

Roxanne Strine completed her Appalachian Trail thru-hike just a few weeks ago, at the sprightly young age of 70. She proved her mettle after her original plans fell through at the last minute, deciding to modify those plans and just go for it. On the way, Roxanne discovered an inner strength that she always knew was there, from her time in her 30s as a professional kickboxer!! Failure was truly not an option for Roxanne, even after getting lost in Maine and having to push the alarm button on her

en

01:34:23

Episode #504 - Darrell Eck (Old Stag)

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

2025/08/28

Darrell Eck, or Old Stag, is this week’s main guest. Darrell retired as a teacher in 2022 and fulfilled his dream of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. He had kept a picture of the AT behind him in his classroom, so the completion must have been sweet indeed. On the way, Darrell helped rescue a woman lost on trail leading her out when she had found herself turned around. He also discovered the precise height of a tree branch when he walked into it!! Surprisingly, Darrell hasn’t set foot back on

en

58:53

Episode #503 - Mike Wetherhold (Push)

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

2025/08/21

Mike Wetherhold, who was in the running to be part of the Mighty Blue Class of 2025, is our guest today. Mike went ahead and started the Appalachian Trail at the end of February, and finished mid-July. As you’ll hear, he is a resilient kind of guy. Mike also had a serious purpose to his hike, raising a considerable sum for ALS research in honor of his Uncle Jay, who died from the disease. He felt Uncle Jay’s presence throughout his hike. If this resonates with you, please support his efforts at

en

01:26:10

Episode #502 - Mike Innes (Bobcat)

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

2025/08/14

Our guest today is Mike Innes, or Bobcat, who hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2007, just before the explosion of technological marvels that help hikers these days. It was also the era when lightweight gear was about to become an obsession, so it was interesting to speak with Mike about his experience. Mike hiked with his dog, Romeo, for part of the way, and Romeo even acquired the delicious trail name of Swamp Monster. You can follow Mike on Instagram at

en

01:12:05

Episode #501 - Madison Boehm (Rescue)

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

2025/08/07

This interview was four years in the making, with Maddie Boehm our main guest, four years after we first made contact. It was worth the wait, as Maddie talks about her somewhat tricky start with backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. She was badly under-prepared for what she would face, but her resilience and her ability to learn from her mistakes were what pushed her through. Along the way, she discovered something within her that had eluded her for much of her life. Maddie talks about plus-size

en

01:19:44

Episode #500 - Jessica Hawkins (Dixie)

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

2025/07/31

Welcome to episode 500 of the Mighty Blue podcast, with Jessica Hawkins, or Dixie, as our main guest. Jessica has been a guest several times before, but in this conversation, we focus on recent life events and her hiking within a family structure. As ever, Jessica is engaging and gives nuanced answers to questions, exposing her own vulnerabilities while remaining a solid source of wisdom about hiking. You can follow Jessica in several ways, primarily via her YouTube channel at

en

01:17:26

Episode #499 - Charlie Rogers (Pilgrim)

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

2025/07/24

Our 499th episode features Charlie Rogers, a fellow member of the AT Class of 2019, and an all-round good guy who gives back to the trail as a trail maintainer and shuttle driver. Charlie and I never met, but I would have enjoyed his gentle wit had we met. When he had completed his bucket list item, Charlie took on the role of caretaker at Stanimals Hostel in Glasgow, then moved full time into the area. He still returns to the north from time to time to hike in the White Mountains. Beth and

en

01:15:25

Episode #498 - Brigid Bell (Purple Haze)

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

2025/07/17

Brigid Bell set out on a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail just two years ago, and had the most extraordinary encounter in the Smokies. That she lived to tell the tale–and continued her thru-hike–is testament to her resilience and the calmness she gained as a 911 dispatcher. Brigid not only flourished on the trail, but she also grew a deep love for the community she found there, and wanted to give back, eventually finding her way into hostel ownership, at the excellent Weary Feet Hostel. You can

en

01:13:32

Episode #497 - Jim & Sarah Klepzig (Rocky Root &...

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

2025/07/10

Our guests today are Jim and Sarah Klepzig, a couple who lost their 22-year-old son, Tristan, in a terrible car accident five years ago. Tristan is on the left in the picture below, taken just two weeks prior to his accident. How they responded to this tragedy, turning to hiking as a way to heal, has been inspiring and helped the two of them navigate the world after their son. They carry keyrings to commemorate Tristan on their hikes up the Appalachian Trail and other trails. Tristan was a big fan

en

01:18:44

Episode #496 - Charles Bruce (Tracker)

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

2025/07/03

We meet Charles Bruce, or Tracker, this week. Charles is a member of the Appalachian Trail Class of 2022, and he fulfilled a long-held bucket list item when he completed his thru-hike. Charles is from the northeast, and one of his passions is to track white-tailed deer through the snow. While those skills didn’t help with his thru-hike, they gave him his awesome trail name! We’ll hear why he needed to be finished before October, and his current plan to keep a promise he made to his wife. Beth and

en

01:18:05

Episode #495 - Dr Lynne Savino (Older hikers on trail)

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

2025/06/26

Our guest today is an old friend of the show; Dr Lynne Savino. Lynne always has an interesting take on medical issues related to hiking, and this week, she discusses older hikers on trail. She brings her normal passion for hiking and medicine to the podcast, teaching me a few things along the way. We also caught up with Dave, Beth and Andrew, as they all cope with the heat bubble on the east coast of the US. Dave has moved into Connecticut, his 10th state, and he got this stunning, early-morning

en

58:12

Episode #494 - The End and Epilogue on the Camino de...

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

2025/06/19

This is it; the final days on my Camino trip in Spain. We cover the final four days, as well as interviews with Dave, plus Beth and Andrew from the Appalachian Trail. Next week, we'll be back to normal!

en

503 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN