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

Episode #575 - Days 139-142 Appalachian Trail 2026

We're into Maine now and if we thought we'd left our difficult days in the past, we were sorely mistaken. My ass has continued to be kicked and The Mahoosuc Notch reveale

Episode #574 - Days 136-138 Appalachian Trail 2026

The miles have been cut back drastically, yet we are on the verge of leaving New Hampshire behind and entering Maine. It has been both glorious and difficult, a challenge

Episode #573 - Days 133-135 Appalachian Trail 2026

New Hampshire has taken its toll on our weekly mileage, but the beauty and difficulty of the trail up here is staggering in both regards. My memory is also getting a bit

Episode #572 - Days 129-132 Appalachian Trail 2026

New Hampshire has been doing New Hampshire things, like kicking my butt, giving me spectacular daily views, and providing Nuke and me with some of the best hiking of this

Episode #571 - Days 126-128 Appalachian Trail 2026

We're not only pushing through New Hampshire, but we've reached the spot where the rubber meets the road; namely, Mt Moosilauke, the first of the 4000-footers that we cli

Episode #570 - Days 122-125 Appalachian Trail 2026

We're at last in New Hampshire, and the drama is ramping up, with longer, higher, and more intense climbs. From previous experience, I know that I've only done the easies

Episode #569 - Days 119-121 Appalachian Trail 2026

A very short episode today, with just three days to report and no interviews. Such are the problems of reporting from a trail with limited WiFi opportunities!! I'm usin

Episode #568 - Days 115-118 Appalachian Trail 2026

Vermont has been an unexpected pleasure. I don't recall it giving me such great hiking last time, and that, along with new and old friends, has made this last state befor

Episode #567 - Days 112-114 Appalachian Trail 2026

We're in damp Vermont right now, with the mud and water making things a touch more tricky. The trail continues to be challenging, with the sure knowledge that it is only

Episode #566 - Days 108-111 Appalachian Trail 2026

With record amounts of rainfall this week in Massachusetts, Nuke and I decided to wait it out during a zero day in Lee. Once we got back on trail the following day, we ha

Episode #565 - Days 105-107 Appalachian Trail 2026

It's been another week of concern over my recent falls, but also one where I've had to manage my hike more proactively. I had a zero day in an attempt to reset and, by an

Episode #564 - Days 101-104 Appalachian Trail 2026

With the rocks finding new ways to hurt me, I'm falling a little too often for comfort. I'm now into Massachusetts, so I know that the rocks will only grow more vicious a

Episode #563 - Days 98-100 Appalachian Trail 2026

I'm into Connecticut now, with the terrain a little more benign than the past few weeks. Added to this, I'm on a bit of a slackpacking run with my friend, Dr Lynne, so my

Episode #562 - Days 94-97 Appalachian Trail 2026

Smoke from Canada and heat have conspired to test me this week, though it was the smoke that was likely more dangerous. That said, another state, New Tork, will be in the

Episode #561 - Days 91-93 Appalachian Trail 2026

It's been another steamy few days that have fully exhausted me. Miles have become harder due to my tiredness, not the terrain. I'm hoping a change in the weather will rev

Episode #560 - Days 87-90 Appalachian Trail 2026

This week has given me several days of slackpacking, with generous listeners helping me out so freely. I couldn't have been more humbled to have been helped in this way.

Episode #559 - Days 84-86 Appalachian Trail 2026

After the heat of last week, the temperatures have fallen and rain is starting to wash out the air. I've continued to put in the miles, including another 20-mile day that

Episode #558 - Days 80-83 Appalachian Trail 2026

Our sweltering weather hit us hard this week, with a couple of days above 100°. Despite the searing heat, I've been able to maintain my mileage goals. The rocks have slow

Episode #557 - Day 77-79 Appalachian Trail 2026

We're facing a tough week or two of excessive heat, with this week the fiercest so far. With temperatures up in the late 90s and early 100s, I have to take this seriously

Episode #556 - Days 73-76 Appalachian Trail 2026

The miles continue to pile up, with a twenty-mile day this week. It's true that the terrain is particularly conducive to twenty-mile plus days, yet I've been surprised at