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

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.

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 and dropped about eight pounds in weight from my pack. The difference is startling.

Next week we hit the Shenandoahs. Can't wait.

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 the times we've shared together.

If you have any questions for me, please send them to Bruce Matson–who will be interviewing me in the next week or so–at [email protected]. Bruce will send the best questioners a copy of his new book Platinum Blazing the Appalachian Trail.

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 Virginia Triple Crown with Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs to come. Can't wait.

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. Plenty of opportunities for copious eating and even the chance of a dip in a river.

We're nearly 30% of the way through and I continue to be surprised at my progress. Here's to the next 70%!!!

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 scenery remains glorious and the view from Chestnut Knob Shelter has to be one of the finest so far in the trail.

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 Damascus. I rested and healed.

When I got on the trail I fell right back into it and hiked more than 50 miles in three days, with the last day an impressive–and my first on this trip–twenty miles.

I'm being joined over the next few days by a buddy who wanted to come hiking. Looking forward to it.

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 night back in my tent.

Tennessee has been wonderful but we're now into Virginia for the next month and a half. When I move into West Virginia I'll be nearly halfway there.

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 beauty.

Then, a totally unexpected evening that filled my heart with joy with a bunch of new friends thrown in.

A chance meeting with a listener led to another new and solid friendship that enabled me to complete my longest day and learn a tragic story.

Today, a short hike into a wonderful new hostel. Things continue to go my way.

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, witnessed the sunset from Beauty Spot, and is coping better and better with big climbs.

He reached Carvers Gap today and is relishing a day of balds tomorrow.