Andy Niekamp, or more commonly known as Captain Blue, joins Jester this week to chat about his hiking adventures, volunteering, and his company, Outdoor Adventure Connection. Andy has over 30,000 miles of hiking experience, with more than 11,000 of those miles being on the Appalachian Trail. Andy has completed the AT five times as a section hiker with his most recent completion in 2021.

Andy was the first solo thru hiker to complete the 1444 mile Buckeye Trail in 2011. Andy published a book about his hike titled: Captain Blue on the Blue Blazes, The First Solo Thru-Hike of Ohio’s 1,444 Mile Buckeye Trail. Andy also started the Dayton Hikers Meet up Group with over 7000 members.

Thanks for listening and Happy Section Hiking!

Connect with Andy Niekamp: Website: https://buckeyetrailhiker.com/

Website: https://www.outdooradventureconnection.com/

Buckeye Trail: https://www.buckeyetrail.org/

Dayton Hikers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DaytonHikers

Dayton Hikers Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/daytonhikers/

Connect with Julie "Jester" Gayheart: Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jestersectionhiker/

Gear Lists & More: https://solo.to/jestersectionhiker

Music for the Podcast provided by: The Okee Dokee Brothers - "Through The Woods" http://www.okeedokee.org/