Episodes
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 deli…
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 …
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…
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…
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 h…
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 …
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…
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 …
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 vit…
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 mor…
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 Virgini…
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…
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 sce…
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 Dam…
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 nig…
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 beaut…
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, wit…
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…
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 Sunnyb…
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-ja…