Episode #382 - Nancy East

I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 40 years young, and am a Nurse Anesthetist (specializing in neurosurgery). I resigned from my position of 15 years to thru hike the Appalachian Trail in March of 2021 after a series of very serendipitous events and very minimal backpacking experience. I now find myself recreating my new "normal"- working less, writing more, and choosing happiness over obligation. Passionate about keeping myself, and others, outside of our comfort zones.

Recently retired from public schools. Backpacker, hiker and kayaker. Mom of 3 married boys - army veteran from a million years ago when there was still a wall up and the cold war was our biggest concern... a long, long time ago :)

I was born and raised in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and moved to Lakeland, Florida, as a teenager. There I eventually worked a 28-year career as a law enforcement officer in Polk County, Florida. I have been married twice and divorced twice. I had two children by my first wife, a daughter and a son. My daughter was killed in a traffic accident on Interstate 4 in Central Florida in the year 2000. She was 18 years old. My son still lives in Lakeland Florida and is pursuing a career in acting. When I was about 10 years old I spent a week at summer camp in the North Georgia Mountains. During that week we hiked for three days and two nights on the Appalachian Trail. It was the first time that I ever knew the trail existed. All these years later I remember those few days on the trail and the impression it left on me. I moved to Knoxville Tennessee in the year 2013 and immediately started hiking in the mountains. I have since hiked about 1,500 miles to include 615 miles on the Appalachian Trail all in day hikes. It has always been a bit of a goal and dream of mine to attempt to through hike the Appalachian Trail. On April 8th, 2022, my daughter's birthday, I am going to start my thru-hike attempt of the trail.

I grew up on the east coast, right on the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland. First the last few years, I have been living abroad. First in Benin, West Africa. I was an English Teachers or middle school students through the Peace Corps. Less than halfway through my service, the Covid-19 pandemic abruptly uprooted me and sent me back to America, unemployeed, unhoused, and desperate for any escape. South Korea was enthusiastically accepting foreigner visa's so I packed my bags again and have been teaching elementary and kinder students here for the what will be a year and a half. I'm not a terribly experienced backpacker, but I have been an enthusiastic enjoyer of everything outdoors for many years now. I first dreamed of the AT 7 years ago when I was on a total self discovery kick.

Gail Muller is a Cornish adventurer, writer and educator. She was told at 14 she’d need to use a wheelchair by the age of 40, but at 41 embarked on one of the world’s toughest treks over 6 months in the USA – The Appalachian Trail.

For fifteen years she struggled with muscular-skeletal issues, chronic pain and the mental health issues that arise from them, but she never gave up hope of healing and resolution. Her debut memoir 'Unlost' tells the tale - an inspiring, uplifting and moving account of one woman’s incredible journey into the unknown. A love letter to the healing power of the wild outdoors and an incredible testament to the strength of the human spirit, Gail’s story is for anyone who has ever felt stuck in a rut, lost or scared.

Gail has recently returned from the Continental Divide Trail and continues to hike, write and create opportunities that encourage everyone to get outdoors, no matter the barrier or fear.

Chuck Hayes, and is a veteran of the United Sates military. During his four decades of service, he has served on every continent except Antarctica. After seeing so much of the world, he’s excited about seeing all of the these United States and what better way than through hiking! Join Chuck as he travels this great nation, see the incredible sights, meet great Americans, and talk to veterans along the way!

Sarah is a social media influencer, writer, blogger, and dog trainer. She started exploring the outdoors at a young age when she trained a team of dogs to compete in dog sledding races in the Midwest. Currently, she runs the blog titled Adventures With My Dogs, where she writes about outdoor recreation with her German Shorthaired Pointer named Marshall, along with helpful dog training tips. She is passionate about helping others create lasting memories with their dogs by exploring the outdoors.

Hiking Bio:
PCT: Sobo 2018
Colorado Trail: 2019
AZT: Sobo 2019
Long Trail: 2020
Grand Enchantment Trail: Spring 2021
AT: Sobo 2021

Thru hiker - AT- 19’, Long Trail 21’, Benton MacKaye- BMT 21’, PCT- 21&22’

Julie “Jester” Gayheart completed the Appalachian Trail in July 2017 after 12 summers of section hiking. Julie is an educator by day and hiker at heart. Jester loves to talk trail and on her podcast you will hear amazing stories and experiences from other section hikers with a love for the trail and passion for hiking.

Grew up in the Catskills in New York State, then moved to Florida in September 2003. Worked as a Segway Tour Guide for the last few years till the pandemic made it so I couldn’t work, so I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, which I had been dreaming of doing for years and suddenly seemed like the perfect time to hit the trail so I did starting February 27, 2021. A little over 6 months later I made it to the end.

Grew up in the Catskills in New York State, then moved to Florida in September 2003. Worked as a Segway Tour Guide for the last few years till the pandemic made it so I couldn’t work, so I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, which I had been dreaming of doing for years and suddenly seemed like the perfect time to hit the trail so I did starting February 27, 2021. A little over 6 months later I made it to the end.

Emanuel Bravo born in Philadelphia, PA, 1976, raised in Puerto Rico. Post-graduate history student, poet, teacher, and other unmentionable things. Summer backpacker since 2016. Trails include Rae Lakes Loop; the final 100-miles of the JMT (SOBO); Tour of Mont Blanc; Salkantay Trek in Peru; the "W" at Torres del Paine, Chilean Patagonia; the Hermit Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, among others.

Day and section hiker, currently working on completing the AT and the NET. I also work as a physician. I love to combine my passion for hiking with my medical knowledge to educate fellow hikers about backcountry medicine. I live in Connecticut, about a half hour from the AT in Pawling, NY and an hour from the NET. What luck!!

Just hiked the CT with my dog FrankE, going NOBO on the AT April 3

Just hiked the CT with my dog FrankE, going NOBO on the AT April 3

In 2021, I hiked 1700 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Each week I chatted with Steve and had the opportunity to share my experiences on the trail with his guests. I plan to finish the trail in 2022 and look forward discovering what more the trail has to teach me.

Hello my friends! I’m a Brooklyn native, now living in Massachusetts, who is fulfilling a lifelong dream of hiking the AT this year. I’ve had the chance to hike throughout New England and have met thru-hikers along the way who were smelly, hungry, exhausted and exhilarated by the experience, the community and the natural setting. I’d love to join their ranks and can’t wait to start. I’m grateful to Mighty Blue for giving me a chance to share my experience. I’m hoping to use my hike to raise money to help address children’s mental health needs - I've included a donation link to the Appalachian Challenge below. Thanks so much for joining me!

Donation Page - Appalachian Challenge: Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Our Youth: https://giving.lifespan.org/Bradley/appalachian-trail-fundraiser