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

Julieann Hartley is today's guest. She hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2015 and transformed her life. She articulates this so beautifully in our conversation, and you may be a little confused about why we laugh so much while discussing difficult topics. Yet her positivity is what pulled her through both the hike and her subsequent life.

Check her out at Instagram and TikTok, and even on Spotify at the links below.

https://www.instagram.com/missjulieannmusic/

https://www.tiktok.com/@missjulieannmusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ckQrLoxKGRGQ5AfPPMflf

We also hear how Dan Whitesides, or Trumpet, ended his AT hike with FrankE, his faithful companion.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

This week, we have the second and concluding part of my recent 75 mile TSX Challenge hike in California, taking in Mt Whitney as its main highlight.

As many of you know, I've often spoken of my inability to hike at altitude. In this hike, I discovered that it was more about my attitude than the altitude.

We covered the first three days of the hike last week. Today, we've got contributions from other hikers, as well as my own experience of those last five days. It was epic!!

You can learn more about this and other hikes at https://tsxchallenge.com/

If you're interested in coming to our upcoming Woods Hole Weekend in early October, check out the Woods Hole site at https://woodsholehostel.com/things-to-do/the-woods-hole-weekend/ and read about what we'll be covering over those three days.

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

As many of you know, I recently fulfilled a long-held ambition to climb Mt Whitney. While I was out on this group-led hike, I could reflect upon what it is to hike in such a wilderness and, on my return, I was eager to share it with you all.

I rarely start editing until the day before my podcast is due to be published, but I've been thinking about this one for the past three days and trying to marshal my thoughts as best I can.

What you'll hear are my honest reflections of the hike as well as input from most of my fellow hikers. I'm not trying to sell you on whether or not you should try one of these hikes; I'm just putting my thoughts out to you and sharing my experience with you. Take it as you will.

You can learn more about this and other hikes at https://tsxchallenge.com/

If you're interested in coming to our upcoming Woods Hole Weekend in early October, check out the Woods Hole site at woodsholehostel.com and read about what we'll be covering over those three days.

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

Our guest today is Clay Bonnyman-Evans, a friend of the show and a previous guest from our early days. Clay came onto the show in 2017 to talk about his 2016 Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Since then, he has racked up a bunch more miles and trails, so we caught up before I headed to hike in California.

As always, Clay is witty, thoughtful, and open as we chat about his hiking. He is also an excellent writer, so you can check out his latest book "Adrift on the Pacific Crest Trail: A Thru-Hiking Story" at this link. We discuss what he means by "adrift," and he gives insight to the necessary separation that a thru-hike will cause in relationships.

He has more books to check out, on his website, claybonnymanevans.com, and he has offered his email should you want to contact him about anything to do with hiking the great trails of America. You can reach him at [email protected].

We catch up with Dan Whitesides, our last remaining Mighty Blue Class of 22 participant. As always, he's smiling through.

If you're interested in coming to our upcoming Woods Hole Weekend in early October, check out the Woods Hole site at woodsholehostel.com and read about what we'll be covering over those three days.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6.

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

Our guest today is Clay Bonnyman-Evans, a friend of the show and a previous guest from our early days. Clay came onto the show in 2017 to talk about his 2016 Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Since then, he has racked up a bunch more miles and trails, so we caught up before I headed to hike in California.

As always, Clay is witty, thoughtful, and open as we chat about his hiking. He is also an excellent writer, so you can check out his latest book "Adrift on the Pacific Crest Trail: A Thru-Hiking Story" at this link. We discuss what he means by "adrift," and he gives insight to the necessary separation that a thru-hike will cause in relationships.

He has more books to check out, on his website, claybonnymanevans.com, and he has offered his email should you want to contact him about anything to do with hiking the great trails of America. You can reach him at [email protected].

We catch up with Dan Whitesides, our last remaining Mighty Blue Class of 22 participant. As always, he's smiling through.

If you're interested in coming to our upcoming Woods Hole Weekend in early October, check out the Woods Hole site at woodsholehostel.com and read about what we'll be covering over those three days.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6.

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

Ryan Leighton is our guest this week and, though not a thru-hiker, he has probably impacted more people with regard to long-distance hiking than many of our guests on the show. He produced a documentary movie–Walking Home–that followed the hike of a father and son duo, along with two other characters who intermittently entered the story.

But Ryan has always been a thrill seeker, and he shares his fascinating story of climbing Katahdin in the winter, a negotiating Knife's Edge with a reluctant friend, and spending time working on a nineteenth century whaling ship. You'll really enjoy meeting him.

As we said on the show, the documentary is free and available on YouTube, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4TWPbBlf70. It is so good and I hope that, if you haven't seen it, you give it a look.

Our Mighty Blue Class of 2022 has been drastically reduced over the summer, and we lost another member this week. Dom Tammaro sustained a hike-ending injury that made him reluctantly quit his journey for the time being. He intends to get back on the trail next year.

Our free-wheeling young member of the group, Dan Whitesides, or Trumpet, and his dog, FrankE, have had a fairly drama-free time–until this week, that is. Hear what's happened to Dan.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6.

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com. If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

I found Kelly Thomas, or Spotter through my rather unhealthy habit of cyber stalking the Appalachian Trail Facebook pages. She had just summited, and her proud Dad recorded that fact. I reached out to him and eventually spoke with Kelly.

For me, her demographic, of a mid-30s female, was under-represented on the trail in past years, but I've noticed it growing in recent years. I wanted to talk with her about that.

You can follow Kelly on her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/UnboundCrow

Today, we also speak with Katie Westling at the end of her successful hike of the Appalachian Trail. She hiked with a buddy of mine, Hugh Ickrath, from her last shelter, then met her family at the finish. Here is a picture that Hugh took of Katie with her daughter and her grandson as she "crossed the line" at the end. Marvelous!!

Also today, an announcement of another podcast on the network. Paul Collins introduces the Hammock Hangers Podcast. I hope you give it a try. You can find it at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/, along with all our other great shows.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6.

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

Just a week before I head out to hike in California, and we have another "vintage" hiker to hear from today. Ted Lovett, or Bulldog, wanted to hike the AT and finish on his birthday. Being a precise, mission-driven military man, that's exactly what Ted did. He shares his story with us.

He met people he wouldn't normally come across when he was out on the trail and delighted learning from all of them. He didn't always enjoy the hike, but he took something positive from it every day.

At Katahdin, Ted was lucky enough to be joined by two of his daughters and achieve that epic summit with them. What a glorious moment that must have been.

Also today, we catch up with Dan Whitesides and Katie Westling, both close to the end of their own epic journeys.

Two things I mention on the show.

1. The Woods Hole Weekend, which is being held on October 6-9 at the iconic Woods Hole Hostel. Details of the weekend can be found on the Woods Hole website, at https://woodsholehostel.com/. I've only just sent the details to Neville and her team, so it should be there sometime today (Thursday).

2. If you'd like to take the last spot on Chris Casado's TSX Challenge, hiking with Chris, me, a couple of our listeners plus a bunch of great companions, email Chris at [email protected]. I hope to see one of you out there.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

This week's guest, Kevin Newsome, completed his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail a year ago. I'd briefly met him at Trail Days while he was on his hike (we had a picture taken together) and I saw him for the second time a few weeks ago, presenting to a local charitable group near my home. I loved his presentation style and got him to come on the show.

He's a professional photographer so, as you'd expect, his Instagram and YouTube channels are worth checking out. You can find them here.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTWPiN81Eb6laUrzIMBoRXA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recklessabandon2021/

We're following the two ladies closest to the end of there hikes, with Sarah Landis and Katie Westling checking, with great news from both. Check out Sarah's soaking Katahdin pic.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

Our guest today is Monica Aguilar. Monica has been putting in the miles for the past four years, having thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018, then completing half of the PCT last year before she was forced to get off trail because of the fires. In between, she managed to fit in a bikepacking trip on the Great Divide Trail.

But Monica's passion for adventure triggered another, more creative side of her. She started to draw and paint in her journal to record the sights she was seeing. When she returned home, she parlayed that hobby into a business.

If you'd like to check out some of Monica's work, go to her website, http://www.chasingtrailsart.com/ or her Instagram page at http://www.instagram.com/chasingtrailsart. She also runs a podcast, which you can hear at https://shitoutdoorspod.com/

Katie and Sarah, so close to the end of their respective journeys, are back on the show this week. They share their experiences of the past week.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6.

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.