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

Today rounds off my last hike into Léon before taking a scheduled break to visit my family for a birthday party, followed by a long detour back to the trail via England, where I watched my beloved Mighty Blues in their unexpected play off final. we also hear again from Beth and Andrew as they take on the first part of the Virginia Triple Crown; Dragon’s Tooth in the rain.  

The first half of my Camino hike is done and I’ve arrived at Léon for my scheduled break with family (and a soccer match). Dave is near the halfway point on the Appalachian Trail and has recovered his mojo. 

Past the two-week mark and into the Meseta, the journey continues with intimate conversation, communal meals, and changing, yet still beautiful scenery.  We also catch up with Beth and Andrew as they move on from Trail Days. 

The Meseta is about to end and I’m about to head south for a few days for a family party. The break has come at a good time to help my feet recover from a pounding.  Beth and Andrew take responsibility for Rufus, a bowling ball. Weird? Yep. 

I’m at Burgos on my Camino adventure and about to head into the Meseta; an entirely different landscape from these first two weeks. Let’s catch up with days number 9-12.  also on the show, Dave has returned to Montana and is readjusting to life back on trail. Beth and I were unable to communicate in time, so we’ll hear how she and Andrew have been doing, as well as their first experience of Trail Days. 

No notes but an extended catch up with Dave as well as my latest exploits on the Camino

No notes due to current circumstances other than to mention that this show covers days 2-5 on my Camino de Santiago in Spain, as well as the latest catch up Beth and Andrew on the Appalachian Trail. 

Limited notes due to the Camino hike, but this week, we see me through my first day on trail and catch up with Dave, Beth, and Andrew on the Appalachian Trail.  

David Lowe, or El Flaco, is our guest today. I saw a post on Facebook, with David at the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail after his FOURTH successful completion. Along with those four, he’s completed the Triple Crown by doing the PCT and CDT as well. David is an engaging fellow, with plenty of wisdom and wit to share, so I’m sure you’ll be inspired by him. Somewhat bizarrely, David told me that his second thru-hike came about because of the terrible summit picture from his first thru-hike. When you see it, you may understand! Dave and his tramily are going to be parting ways shortly, as he heads home for a family get together, but he is hiking strongly with Ahoy and Sad Soup and will doubtless miss them when they are forced to split. For now, though, they’ve pushed past the 600 mile marker. Beth and Andrew are about a month behind, going through Hot Springs and experiencing some of the impact the storm had on that town. They also share great shots from the trail. I used my hike last year on the

We have such an interesting guest this week. Guinevere Drabik, or Lucky. She thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2023 and found a community that she had been looking for. She shares great stories about her time on trail and recalls several people who influenced her hike, with a dry wit that really made me laugh. You can see more of Guinevere on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/luckyhikesandwrites/ , and read her blog on the Trek at https://thetrek.co/author/guinevere-drabik/ . She is also on Substack at https://substack.com/@luckyhikesandwrites Dave has hit the 500 mile mark, eating everything in his path as trail magic seems to follow him around, while Beth and Andrew meet a friend of the show. And Andrew gets a tattoo; a hiker’s rite of passage. I used my hike last year on the South West Coast Path in the UK 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

Anna McKinney Smith, a 2021 thru-hiker, is our guest today. Anna found her people out on trail and, more significantly, she also found her person, who became her husband. Anna referred to having a “common purpose of forward momentum” that appealed to her, and she has since been a writer for the Trek and opened her own blog about hiking, called Magic in the Mountains. Here’s the link. Magic in the Mountains. You can also follow Anna on the Trek at Anna McKinney Smith, Author at The Trek and on Instagram at Instagram (@annamckinney22) . She’ll be hiking the PCT with her husband this year, so follow along. Dave, Beth, and Andrew continue their way north, with Dave about to pass the 500 mile mark–a special milestone–and Beth and Andrew completing two weeks on trail. All is well, though Andrew had a “bit of a day” recently! I used my hike earlier this year on the South West Coast Path in the UK to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I’ve been privileged to serv

Melanie Wood is our guest this week. She hiked SOBO last year, running into the devastation of Helene with about 700 miles to go, having to prematurely end her hike. She is still recognized as a thru-hiker because, quite rightly, she hiked the trail that was available. Melanie went on to write about her experiences on the trail, giving a positive outlook with her perspectives. You can check out more about the book at her website at Home - Melanie A. Wood, Author. If you'd like to order the book on Amazon, click this link. https://www.amazon.com/Shalt-Other-Lessons-Learned-Appalachian/dp/B0F31KM49R/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1EVH84JSUJGIR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.goq_nMXT8NQbdqwN77wovGAMvgnQKgrBNnM_PcHRQ2dT0xBBuTY2qKs-cqBBVqhMdoo5nLoUuqWJ70a09XNHM2cHtpKar0q1-pSzdxZWl82TZZ5iwx7HaXGiyywr1mazWoGTnXhv_SbMxzFY_WmlwMcoASSPL_r4eysnq19zx6Dxwd9Vt6GTrAUFM6j79pc1AAe2KBchv1pyI8uO3uXiUfDAarZIyyPk9UKnYmemjgs.JrTtuXdB8AJIUrQKl2dCvTTwdwQVNESpQ-YMGYOkt8Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=melanie+wood&qid=1744148444&sprefix=melanie+wood%2C

We have a German hiker on the podcast this week. Annika Ananias recently flew into the US to hike the Arizona Trail with her American boyfriend, when she was pulled out of line, harshly interrogated, deported, and banned from re-entering the country for five years. This, despite having a ten-year visa. She has a compelling story. I wanted to hear from Annika in her own words. The Trek wrote a great article about her that left me with a few questions I wanted to clear up with her. As you’ll hear, she is articulate and tells her alarming story with clarity. These links will tell you more of the story and, if you’re able to read German or you can get it translated, at the end of the list is an article she wrote to warn fellow European hikers of the situation they may face in the US. Annika Ananias / "Ravenclaw", Author at The Trek German Thru-Hiker Detained, Deported, and Banned From US - The Trek Einreise in die USA: Warum ein Visum keine Garantie ist und wie ihr euch vorbereiten solltet - Weltwanderin Bo

This week, we meet Bill Zyckowski, or Big Willy Dawg. Bill is a retired police officer who truly needed a walk in the woods to bring some meaning to his life. As you’ll hear, he embraced it thoroughly, forming a strong bond with his fellow hikers, the majority of whom were decades younger. He emerged changed, as many of us do. You can learn more about Bill–and follow him on his hiking adventures–on YouTube at BigWillyDawg Beth is less than a week away from her AT thru-hike start. This week, we talk last minute preparations and imminent plans. Next week, we’ll hear from her from the trail. Already out there, Dave Santi has passed the 200 mile mark and, twinges aside, is sounding strong and in control of his hike. Our book reading, Happy Hiking, by my friend, Emily Leonard is–of course–written from a woman’s POV and a woman’s voice. I hope you enjoy listening to my reading of it. If you’d like to buy the book, you can find it on Amazon at Happy Hiking: Falling in love on the Appalachian Trail, or on Emily’

Nicole Markovich joins us on the podcast to tell us about her 2022 AT thru-hike, the drastic changes to her life that ensued, and the ultimate formation of a business that encompassed both her teaching and backpacking experience. As if that wasn’t enough, she also met the man who would become her boyfriend at Springer Mountain the first night on trail. Undeterred by the distance between their respective lives, Nicole moved to Tennessee to start a new life and a new business. You can find out more about Nicole’s guiding trips and engage with her on social media by clicking the links below. Wildwood Hiking Co. Wildwood Hiking Co. Instagram (@wildwood_hiking_co) Instagram (@travel_by_trail) Dave is at Franklin, NC, adjusting to life on trail with new friends and even some new gear. Beth shares her musical favorites as she gets ready to hit the trail very soon. Our book reading, Happy Hiking, by my friend, Emily Leonard is–of course–written from a woman’s POV and a woman’s voice. I hope you enjoy listenin

Nick Panetta is our guest this week. He is an avid section hiker on the Appalachian Trail, and a stickler for detail. He attempted a southbound thru-hike back in 2012, was woefully ill-prepared, and only made it part of the way through the 100 Mile Wilderness. Undeterred, perhaps even more determined, Nick went away and started to understand the requirements for extensive backpacking over a period of time. He shed plenty of excess weight in his gear, and now prepares methodically with spreadsheets to guide him along his way. Nick’s is an instructive story on how to learn by one’s mistakes and prepare for the trail as best you can to mitigate risks along the way. Our Mighty Blue Class of 2025 brings Beth back to the show as she prepares for her own thru-hike attempt at the end of this month, while Dave checks in with us on his reflections–and a picture from the Green Dragon Hostel–of the first few days. Our book reading, Happy Hiking, by my friend, Emily Leonard is–of course–written from a woman’s POV and

I saw a great Facebook post on one of the Appalachian Trail pages recently. Shelley Harris (Hopscotch) wrote her reflections after her thru-hike, offering common sense solutions to those contemplating such an adventure. Basically, Shelley suggested that you can figure it out as you go along, and you shouldn’t stress the details. Our over-cautious, everybody-has-an-opinion world tends to forget the simple truths, which apply not only to hiking but also to everyday life. For me, Shelley was a breath of fresh air. For the first time in our Mighty Blue Class of 2025, both Beth and Dave are on the show. Beth shares her gear choices, while Dave has a few last-minute thoughts, and anticipates the impending journey ahead. Our book reading, Happy Hiking, by my friend, Emily Leonard is–of course–written from a woman’s POV and a woman’s voice. I hope you enjoy listening to my reading of it. If you’d like to buy the book, you can find it on Amazon at Happy Hiking: Falling in love on the Appalachian Trail, or on Emily’

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, startlingly, Cat decided to capture with his iPhone. Here’s the link. Four Grizzlies!!! Dave Santi and I talked again, this time invoking our Desert Island Discs take-off, with Dave’s choices of music that evoke memories for him. Our book reading, Happy Hiking, by my friend, Emily Leonard is–of course–written from a woman’s POV and a woman’s voice. I hope you enjoy listening to my reading of it. If you’d like to buy the book, you can find it on Amazon at Happy Hiking: Falling in love on the Appalachian T

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 along the way. Steve and David discuss this new venture, as well as his other experiences hiking the Appalachian Trail. You can check out his two Facebook groups here at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1394634307891967 and https://www.facebook.com/SquarepegsHikeTalk Dave Santi and Steve talk about inspiration and motivation in the second of his four pre-hike conversations as he gears up to head out in early March. Our book reading, Happy Hiking, by my friend, Emily Leonard is–of course–written from a woman’s POV and

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, including two that I wear. There are plenty of ways to follow Tina, either online or in person. Check out these links: See Tina in person: AT Gateways at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia on February 28 - March 2, 2025. Appalachian Trail Days in Damascus, Virginia on May 16-18, 2025 Follow Tina online: Bead by Bead Adventures: Necklaces that are maps of long-distance hiking trails that hikers (or those at home) can use to track their progress. Her website is at www.gobeadbybead.com, on Instagram at Instagram (@gobea