Episodes
Aug. 23, 2019
Episode #180 - Appalachian Trail (Days 175 to 178)
With the worst mountains in the 100 Mile Wilderness begins us, Trigger and I had to put in some long days to meet our goal of summiting Katahdin by Friday. The rocks and roots, abetted by some very dubious weather, tried to throw us off our game plan...
Aug. 22, 2019
Episode #179 - Appalachian Trail (Days 172 to 174)
Given how lucky we’ve been with the weather so far, I suppose it was only inevitable that the 100 Mile Wilderness gave us four straight days of rain. Rocks and roots are tricky at the driest of times; after rain they can be lethal. Despite this, we...
Aug. 15, 2019
Episode #178 - Appalachian Trail (Days 168 to 171)
We’ve covered a lot of ground to get here and are now in Monson, ready to hit the 100 Mile Wilderness. The path here hasn’t always been straight (or even northbound), yet we’ve covered every mile and have longed for these final days. There is...
Aug. 13, 2019
Episode #177 - Appalachian Trail (Days 164 to 167)
Slackpacking the tougher mountains has been a feature of these past four days. With the Saddlebacks, the Crocker’s, then the stunningly beautiful Bigelows, we’ve been treated to (mostly) great weather. Now, past 2000 miles, we’re refining our...
Aug. 11, 2019
Episode #176 - Appalachian Trail (Days 161 to 163)
It’s been a while (again). We’re making progress but the miles are taking their toll and I’m often too tired at the end of the day to record. That said, the miles continue to melt away and we’re closing in on 2000 miles. The Baldpates...
Aug. 6, 2019
Episode #175 - Appalachian Trail (Days 158 to 160)
My first, faltering days back from illness led me to Mahoosuc Notch on Day 3. To be frank, I think that I should have stayed another day or two with Gary and Cathy as I clearly wasn’t ready to get back to it. That said, Maine has continued to wow us...
Aug. 2, 2019
Episode #174 - Appalachian Trail (Days 153 to 157)
In a marked contrast to yesterday’s show, this one is a little bit of a doom and gloom episode, with those earlier doubts all coming back to haunt me as I come down with an infection. The trail is an extended lesson in life that will test you...
Aug. 1, 2019
Episode #173 - Appalachian Trail (Days 149 to 152)
With four days of glorious weather forecast, we couldn’t wait to get stuck into Franconia Ridge and the Presidential Range, highlighted by summiting Mt Washington. We were entertained in a log cabin, driven down, then back up Mt Washington, and...
July 24, 2019
Episode #172 - Appalachian Trail (Days 146 to 148)
With Cushy back in the fold, we’re finding more ways to do this hike. Having done Moosilauke, we had to fill in our ten-mile gap AFTER the British Open. We worked it out. Then, most surprising to me, Kinsman blew me away. What a blast. We also had...
July 23, 2019
Episode #171 - Appalachian Trail (Days 143 to 145)
We’re in New Hampshire and starting to put together our highlight reel. We’ve also run into an old friend and teamed up again. The trail has already lived up to expectations, something that I was concerned wouldn’t happen for me the second time...
July 17, 2019
Episode #170 - Appalachian Trail (Days 137 to 142)
Trigger and I have been separated and are now reunited. I definitely hike better with him! Vermont has been great training for our upcoming adventures in the Whites and beyond. In this episode, we also chat with a SOBO hiker, a “hidden” hostel...
July 11, 2019
Episode #169 - Appalachian Trail (Days 131 to 136)
Vermont has provided us with mud, mozzies, and views from the top of mountains. We’ve been hiking for 20 straight days and I took the decision to take a zero, splitting with Trigger for about four days. We’ll get back together on Sunday. Vermont...
July 5, 2019
Episode #168 - Appalachian Trail (Days 127 to 130)
We’ve had visitors this week. One had a shirt for me while Trigger’s boys drove 16 hours to hike seven miles with us. The heat in New England has been stifling and certainly took a toll on us. However, the further north we go, the cooler the...
July 1, 2019
Episode #167 - Appalachian Trail (Days 123 to 126)
Still pushing on and now into Massachusetts and past 1550 miles. We’re managing our reduced mileage and taking several breaks during the day is helping us conserve our energy. I’ve now lost about 35 lbs while Trigger has dropped over 40 lbs.
June 28, 2019
Episode #166 - Appalachian Trail (Days 120 to 122)
With two-thirds of the trail under our feet, the humidity and heat has cranked up to shorten our days. We still aim to finish in the last week of August, but we can see a tougher profile ahead. These past few days have been impacted by, particularly,...
June 24, 2019
Episode #165 - Appalachian Trail (Days 115 to 119)
I had a brief day of doubt this week as my body appeared to rebel about the miles I was doing. I soon got over it but even wondered if Lyme Disease was a possibility. I also got the great chance to meet face to face with our very own Dr Lynne, as well...
June 20, 2019
Episode #164 - Appalachian Trail (Days 112 to 114)
We’ve been incredibly lucky with our management of rain so far but, as with all things, this, too, shall end. The rain is upon us and making the New York rocks slicker and far more dangerous. We have a quandary, in that there are blue-blazes to...
June 16, 2019
Episode #163 - Appalachian Trail (Days 109 to 111)
Old friends reunited and new friends met. The trail continues to provide us with serendipitous moments that are the real Trail Magic. Sharing the trail with Trigger, Dodger Dog, Cushy, and a new friend, Barb, has been a delight. I’m fulfilling my...
June 15, 2019
Episode #162 - Appalachian Trail (Days 106 to 108)
Pennsylvania has claimed another couple of victims; Trigger and I are VERY glad that it is over. Our feet and shoes have suffered from the sharpness of the rocks and, now that we have entered New Jersey, we were hoping that the rocks were going to...
June 10, 2019
Episode #161 - Appalachian Trail (Days 103 to 105)
Rocks, rocks, and more rocks have made our days tougher but, somewhat perversely, longer and further. We’re taking a zero right now but have racked up an average of almost 20 miles a day for over a week. Two more days and we’ll be out of...
June 7, 2019
Episode #160 - Appalachian Trail (Days 101 to 102)
Just two days today, with a 35-mile hike into the precipitous descent into Port Clinton. Trigger and I are still together and, as you can see, he has reached for his bug net to keep the flies and mozzies at bay and away from his face. We meet a French...
June 5, 2019
Episode #159 - Appalachian Trail (Days 97 to 100)
We’ve had a productive few days, including the longest day I’ve ever done on the AT. Trigger and I are currently a 2-person “tramily” as Cushy and Dodger Dog are a day ahead. We’ve supported one another and kept each other honest as hikers....
June 1, 2019
Episode #158 - Appalachian Trail (Days 94 to 96)
With the tramily now down to two of us, Trigger and I have made steady progress in Pennsylvania. The Mason Dixon Line, the halfway point, and the 1100 mile marker were all passed in quick succession. We’re hoping that Cushy will catch us in the next...
May 30, 2019
Episode #157 - Appalachian Trail (Days 91 to 93)
The past three days have taken us through Maryland to the edge of Pennsylvania. It didn’t turn out to be the easy state I’d remembered. We were honored to have the company of Laurie Potteiger from ATC as our hiking companion for part of the first...