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

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

Release Date: 05/02/2024

Episode #451 - Kim Shoop (Gator) show art Episode #451 - Kim Shoop (Gator)

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

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 together a website of her own to help out. You can find it at . Kim is also active on...

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Episode #450 - Larry Ripari (Bird) show art Episode #450 - Larry Ripari (Bird)

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

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  and on YouTube at Our Class of 2024 is moving towards the end for some of our team. Hear the joy in Sloggy’s voice as he describes his Katahdin...

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Episode #449 - Mighty Blue Class of 2024 show art Episode #449 - Mighty Blue Class of 2024

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

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 at or call 407-435-0294. I also shared a bit about my recent return to the Appalachian Trail...

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Episode #448 - Sarah Zettler (Cricket) show art Episode #448 - Sarah Zettler (Cricket)

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

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 reassured and cared for Sarah and deserve our praise anytime we get the chance. Nice one, team. ...

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Episode #447 - Georgetta Frederick (Trail Mama) show art Episode #447 - Georgetta Frederick (Trail Mama)

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

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 , and on YouTube at . 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 information at Our Mighty Blue Class of 2024 is still pushing forward, with Anita Gschwendtner and Michael Gaasch checking in with us today. Our...

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Episode #446 - Dr Daniel Warren on Lyme Disease show art Episode #446 - Dr Daniel Warren on Lyme Disease

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

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  and I’ll forward your question to Daniel. If you’d like to learn more about the work taking place at Envita Medical Centers, check out their website here. Two of our...

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Episode #445 - Nick Kindred (Sgt Pepper) show art Episode #445 - Nick Kindred (Sgt Pepper)

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

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 hasn’t shared any social media links, but he sent me this link about the Artemis program that...

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Episode #444 - Heidi Nisbett (Sketch) show art Episode #444 - Heidi Nisbett (Sketch)

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

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 more about the trail itself, go to You can check out Heidi’s website at  and her...

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Episode #443 - Glenn Van Peski (G Squared) show art Episode #443 - Glenn Van Peski (G Squared)

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

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 can get a copy of Glen’s book from his website at , while you can follow him on Instagram...

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Episode #442 - Linda McAbee (Castaway) show art Episode #442 - Linda McAbee (Castaway)

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

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 and determination, both qualities required for a successful hike. We also caught up with...

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More Episodes

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 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 you want to support this critical mission.

Don’t forget. Our entire series of videos from our Woods Hole Weekend in 2022 is now FREE and available at my YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA8ImK4qpNc&list=PLu8u88nsJtgWZxT8DLwEW2yXcz4gT6HXsThere, you’ll find all sorts of tips and tricks that our guests took away from the weekend that helped them with their own hikes this year. Check it out.

I often ask listeners for ideas on who to interview, and I’m sure several of you say, “I could do that. I’ve got an awesome story to tell.” You’re the person we need to hear from. If you’d like to be interviewed on the podcast, just register as a guest on the link below, and I’ll be in touch. https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/mighty-blue-on-the-appalachian-trail-the-ultimate-mid-life-c/guests/intake/

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

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