When Andrew Haverstick reached out to me recently telling me that he had a story to share, I called and listened to his story. Our subsequent conversation turned into one of the most poignant interviews on the show so far.

In 2018, when he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, he did so with an unfolding situation back home that was doubtless causing him stress. That said, Andrew's calmness in our conversation and his actions on the trail were all based around that unfolding situation. Listen to Steve and Andrew as they discuss Andrew's hike.

If you'd like to follow Andrew on his adventures, you can find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ahaverstick13/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg6eYbh5TShtPBmuiiIdxcQ

With no hostel owner to talk with this week, I took the chance to speak with Anna Huthmaker, of the Trail Dames Podcast. She told me of the development of the podcast and her plans for the future. You can catch up with the show at https://hikingradionetwork.com/the-trail-dames-podcast/ It is particularly apposite to do so in the next week or so as Anna gives you gift ideas for the hiker in your life.

Our sponsor, Terri Kidder, a Young Living Essential Oils Independent Distributor, has an offer for listeners. Just text "HIKER" to 937-848-1630 and you'll receive a response telling you how to get the Young Living Basic Hiker Pack for you or the hiker in your life.

Finally, in Paul Stutzman's Hiking Through, Paul passes the halfway mark and encounters a ferocious storm.