Episodes
May 26, 2019
Episode #156 - Appalachian Trail (Days 87 to 90)
We’ve made it to Harpers Ferry, the traditional halfway point. I’m tired, sore, and feel accomplished. The tramily is starting to break up, a natural progression as members come and go. With a bit of luck, we’ll reform in a week or so. The good...
May 26, 2019
Episode #155 - Appalachian Trail (Days 84 to 86)
We’ve finished with Shenandoah National Park. It turned out to be a great place that we all thoroughly enjoyed. With Ugh leaving for Trail Days, our little group has been augmented by the lovely Dodger Dog. Her youth and vitality have lifted our...
May 19, 2019
Episode #154 - Appalachian Trail (Days 78 to 83)
It has been a wonderful six days with the Shenandoah National Park as the backdrop. I’ve been gobsmacked (wonderful English expression) by the kindness of others, with probably the surprise of my life coming on the first morning out of Rockfish Gap....
May 14, 2019
Episode #153 - Appalachian Trail (Days 74 to 77)
Four days of SOBO and NOBO hiking, with RTK joining us for a couple of very wet, quite testing days. We learn about the attacks and the trail has become a sadder place. How we recover from this desperately sad incident will say a lot about the...
May 14, 2019
Episode #152 - Appalachian Trail (RTK interviews Mighty Blue)
Bruce Matson (RTK) asks Mighty Blue listeners’ questions, with subjects ranging from interesting characters, food, a comparison between his two AT hikes to lessons learned.
May 9, 2019
Episode #151 - Appalachian Trail (Days 68 to 73)
The forest is greening up rapidly. Our team is still together but issues are arising. Not between the four of us but in our own physical frailties that this hike examines. I’ve switched out several items from my winter gear and dropped about eight...
May 4, 2019
Episode #150 - Appalachian Trail (Days 65 to 67)
It has been an epic few days, with the Virginia Triple Crown of Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs now behind us. Once more, new and old friends have shared these extraordinary moments and we’re all grateful for the times we’ve...
May 1, 2019
Episode #149 - Appalachian Trail (Days 60 to 64)
A week with a new Tramily. It has been fun to hike with Ugh, Cushy Life, and Trigger for the past few days. I’ve been upping my miles to keep up with them but they’ve kept me honest as a hiker. We’re about to hit the Virginia Triple Crown with...
April 25, 2019
Episode #148 - Appalachian Trail (Days 56 to 59)
Every night in the woods this time. After publishing the last show at Chestnut Knob Shelter I’ve made it the 55 miles to Woods Hole Hostel. Characters are becoming family and we’re caring about their lives as well as our own. Plenty of...
April 22, 2019
Episode #147 - Appalachian Trail (Days 52 to 55)
I’ve spent the past four days hiking with my Buddy, Clay Bonnyman Evans. I trimmed back the mileage but have continued to feel better and better as I hiked. We even met some alpacas. As you can see from the pictures, the scenery remains glorious and...
April 18, 2019
Episode #146 - Appalachian Trail (Days 47 to 51)
Three hard hiking days out of Damascus proved the perfect antidote to two days lying on my bed watching sport on TV. I was lucky enough to address some students studying the Appalachian Trail (yes, it’s a thing) while in Damascus. I rested and...
April 12, 2019
Episode #145 - Appalachian Trail (Days 43 to 46)
It’s been an exhausting few days and my body is telling me to rest. I’m taking a double zero in Damascus, though I’m still getting in some good mileage days. I’ve visited a couple of great hostels recently and also had a night back in my tent....
April 8, 2019
Episode #144 - Appalachian Trail (Days 40 to 42)
Another diverse few days, with tiredness, bailouts, glorious views, wonderful people, and poignant stories filling my days. From a sun-filled Carvers Gap I crossed the balds and revealed in both the physicality and the beauty. Then, a totally...
April 6, 2019
Episode #143 - Appalachian Trail (Days 36 to 39)
More miles and experiences under his belt, Steve is planning ahead to ensure that he extracts the best parts of his hike when the weather is cooperating. He has met up with a listener, spent time with several new people, witnessed the sunset from...
April 1, 2019
Episode #142 - Appalachian Trail (Days 32 to 35)
Another great few days, with weather extremes influencing the hike. Eventually, Steve learned–yet again–the importance of hiking your own hike. He has put in some fairly long days and found himself to be completely exhausted. Eventually, a plan...
March 28, 2019
Episode #141 - Appalachian Trail (Days 29 to 31)
A short few days and a cloudy Max Patch. Getting the mileage up to 14s and 15s but still feeling tired, either through lack of sleep, lack of food, or both. Now in beautiful Hot Springs and enjoying the hospitality at Sunnybank Inn, or Elmer’s. Life...
March 25, 2019
Episode #140 - Appalachian Trail (Days 24 to 28)
This is the Smokies Part II episode. With five days the cover the mileage may seem unimpressive. However, within those five days, there are two “nearos” and a “zero.” This has been a pretty brutal few days with snow, bone-jarring cold, warmth,...
March 21, 2019
Episode #139 - Appalachian Trail (Days 20 to 23)
It’s Smokies Week on the show and plenty of uphills on the way to Clingmans Dome. I became part of, and lost, my first tramily, and loved my time with them. I also met the very sweet Little Foot (follow her YouTube channel “Hike with Little...
March 16, 2019
Episode #138 - Appalachian Trail (Days Seventeen to Nineteen)
Another few days with varying fortunes. The week started disastrously with the loss of a vital piece of equipment. The views continued to make the heart fly and the Smoky Mountain got closer and closer. Along the way, the humanity of hikers was on...
March 13, 2019
Episode #137 - Appalachian Trail (Days Fourteen to Sixteen)
Another three-day stint between stops in town took Steve from Franklin to Nantahala Outdoor Center. Before he even left Franklin, however, he started with one of the finest breakfasts that he has ever had. Listen to what he had. Another view, this...
March 10, 2019
Episode #136 - Appalachian Trail (Days Ten to Thirteen)
The trail has been testing this past four days. Steve left Dick’s Creek Gap last Thursday morning and has now reached Franklin NC after three nights in the woods. 48 hours of rain and not enough food has been testing but he has managed to push...
March 6, 2019
Episode #135 - Appalachian Trail (Days Seven to Nine)
It has been an emotional three days for Steve as he faced up to his first real adversity. He knew it would happen, he was even expecting it, yet his emotional reaction took even Steve by surprise. It just reinforced his belief that the Trail impacts...
March 3, 2019
Episode #134 - Appalachian Trail (Days Four to Six)
Now six days in, Steve is getting into something of a rhythm. His toes are hurting a little, though nothing too serious. He is constantly on the lookout for individual stories but only includes one today because he lost touch with his next intended...
March 1, 2019
Episode #133 - Appalachian Trail (Days One to Three)
Steve is on his way and trying to adjust to his new lifestyle. So far, he has kept to the schedule he gave himself and finished day three in Suches. It has brought back memories from his first thru-hike, with a bunch of new characters already...