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

In early November 2013, John Bock had a triple bypass following a completely unexpected heart attack. He and his wife, Melody, had planned to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail from March 2014—which is what they did. They flip-flopped and completed their adventure at Harpers Ferry in November 2014, just over a year after the news that would have postponed, or even abandoned the dreams of less determined people. Their remarkable story, along with the radical lifestyle that they have since adopted, is told in this interview. They are homeless by choice, fearless, and ever moving forward, refusing to stop their enviable lifestyle. Melody even had the time to give me a botany lesson on the trail, identifying plants as we walked by until she pointed out something that she referred to as a Lady Slipper, but which, to me, would always be known as Vasectomy Surprise. John and Melody would be happy to hear from old friends and fellow hikers at [email protected], while they can also be found on Facebook. Click either John or Melody. Their journey wasn't easy, but they made many friends along the way and proved, yet again, that the trail can get you through your toughest days if you keep moving forward. Attie continues to revel in the trail, though this week she had her first setback. When she told me about it I was worried for her but she just shrugged it off and got on with it. Her perseverance was rewarded with a really sweet dollop of trail magic, administered by one of our wonderful, caring listeners. Thanks, Casey. In Fear and Loathing, Gary Sizer confesses to his worries about having a damp hike, and admits to his doubts along the way as he got closer to Katahdin. You can read about Gary's journey by going to his Amazon page for Where's the Next Shelter? It is a really funny read and one that I highly recommend. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a patron at Patreon. Thanks to those of you who have already done so.

As this is my show, I thought I'd get myself interviewed and, in the absence of any questions from my listeners, I went ahead and asked Diane, my lovely wife, to interview me. She asked me a few things I hadn't really thought too much about and, listening back as I edited the show, I realized how much I'd changed in the past few years. The thought say, ten years ago, that somebody would one day interview me about hiking was as likely as somebody asking Kim Kardashian the nuances of nuclear fission. It just wouldn't happen. I was able to reflect further on my own hike, as well as my upcoming trip back onto the AT and my real task for the year of my second (and probably last) attempt at the John Muir Trail. I'll be blogging about that journey and eventually writing a book about it. You should know my email address by now, but you can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. I love to hear from people and always respond. Atticus (Jessa / Attie) is through the Smokies and continues to have a blast. She seems to be having the best of the weather in this rather unpredictable year. Fear and Loathing this week is a longer than normal interview, with Gabe Burkhardt (Hermes or Sketch). He talks of the importance of finishing his 2016 hike and the internal precipice he found himself on the edge of during that hike. This is a powerful conversation that you may consider unsuitable for children. Read Gabe's excellent blog. He pulls no punches and illustrates his stories with great sketches. Thanks as ever for supporting the show, either on Patreon or buying my books. I'm so grateful to everybody for their support. Remember, you can also get my free e-book, Hiking the Appalachian Trail is Easy: Especially if You've Never Hiked Before, by going to my author's site, steveadams.info and leaving your name and email address.

When Jean Sobus decided that she was going to hike the Appalachian Trail, she didn't let a little thing like plantar fasciitis stand in her way. In much the same way, stage 3 breast cancer wasn't going to deter her from the Pacific Crest Trail. Jean's solution to obstacles and negativity is to go for a very long walk. Her adventures included a 60-mile walk through the night, fueled by espresso milkshake, and an encounter with what she believed to be a mountain lion. She suffered spine fractures while undergoing chemo to treat her cancer, yet chose to find her cures on the trails of America, inspiring others with her fight. The picture below was taken just after finishing the Appalachian Trail, when she'd discovered her cancer diagnosis. One week later, she lost all her hair. Undeterred, Jean took part in bike rides to raise money for charity, and this speech is a great example of her refusal to be defined, or even slowed, by her cancer. She even shared a video of her dancing in a gorgeous blond wig and removing it mid dance. Battling her illness all the way, she completed the Pacific Crest Trail in 2015, two thirds of the way to a Triple Crown. You can email Jean at [email protected], and find her on Facebook. Jessa, or Atticus, is now past the 150-mile mark and continues to show her sunny disposition as she makes her way north. This week, she's about to climb into the Smokies. Remember to follow her blog, which she updates regularly. Clay Bonnyman Evans gives us his fears before setting out, with rain right at the top of the list. As you can read in Clay's blog, he needn't have worried. Thanks to those of you who have supported the show at Patreon. I truly appreciate it.

Trevor Thomas was an adrenaline junkie in his mid-thirties when he started to lose his sight. Six months later, he was completely blind. After a spell of understandable bitterness, Trevor refused to allow his new circumstances to define him. Approaching the logistical issues with a precise attention to detail, he set out on a new journey. This has led him to hike nearly 20,000 miles in the past ten years. His story is inspiring, as is his mission to empower blind and visually impaired young adults while challenging the misconceptions the sighted community has toward the blind. He founded Team FarSight Foundation, Inc. to achieve this goal in 2014. Since 2012, Trevor has been accompanied on his many adventures by his remarkable companion, Tennile. There are many ways to contact Trevor; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as through his website. He and Tennile continue to inspire those of us who often take our physical well-being for granted. Jessa is now in her first 100 miles and enjoying every minute. Don't forget to follow her blog, which you can reach here. I caught up with her a couple of times this week. James Claiborne, another guest from a previous episode, shares his pre-hike concerns. They proved to be groundless as he reveled in the companionship of the trail. Please consider being a patron of the show. Go to patreon.com/mightyblue to support me. Thanks

The Hiker Yearbook is fast becoming a must-have item for thru-hikers of recent years. Matthew Odie Norman is providing a great service to hikers as he not only provides trail magic but also puts together his own version of magic with this glorious keepsake from that magical time in the woods. He is reaching out to his community to allow them to reconnect after the trail, answering his own question after reaching the summit of Katahdin, "What's the second book?" The Hiker Yearbook is the second book. Critically, he would appreciate the support back from his community in the form of your vote, every day until April 5. Click on Fedex to be taken directly to the voting site. Please don't pass this by. We can do it. You can reach out to Odie in several ways. There is his website, Facebook, and Instagram. Check him out and encourage this great project. You can also email him directly at [email protected]. Jessa, or Atticus, or Attie, is on her way. The first interview, from Gooch Gap is pretty lousy quality, which was entriely down to my boyish enthusiasm and stupidity, but the second is a lot better. She is having a blast and I hope you're looking forward to hearing more from her as she makes her way north. The amazing Stacey Kozell continues to disarm me with her glorious self-deprecation as she describes her pre-trail concerns in Fear & Loathing on the Appalachian Trail. Yes, her concerns APART from being paralyzed. You never have a conversation with Stacey without feeling better about your own blessings. You can support my efforts in the show by buying my books or supporting the show on Patreon. There is a button that can take you directly to my Patreon page, or you could simply click here.

Did you ever wonder what it is like for those we leave behind? Listen to my wife Diane talking about the impact that my hike had on her life. She is forthright and brutally honest in our.conversation, telling me a couple of things we'd never really discussed before. I even left in something that I'd originally intended to leave out when she hit me with another revelation. When I was editing this interview, I was struck by the passion that she eventually had for MY adventure. Her understanding of it, and the AT sense of community, helped her to cope better with our separation. I always knew that I was a lucky guy; this proved it to me yet again. I just hope that everybody on the A.T. this year has somebody at home who cares as deeply for them and their journey.. Our globe-trotting adventurer, Jessa, has returned from her pre thru-hike trip to Europe. She had just a couple of days at home and will be leaving on her hike this morning, March 23. We spoke for the last time when she got to Atlanta. The next time we talk, she'll be somewhere on a mountain. I can't wait and will be presenting her updates from the trail every week. You can also follow her blog, by clicking here. Dixie gave us plenty of sensible advice with her Fear and Loathing segment. She, too, is preparing to plunge back into the "homeless by choice" lifestyle, as she is getting ready for her PCT adventure. Don't forget to follow her on Facebook at Homemade Wanderlust Backpacking Forum and, of course, catch her great YouTube series of videos which will soon include scenes from her PCT trip This week, I introduced my Patreon account for the people who'd like to support the show with a couple of bucks every now and then. You can find the page at www.patreon.com/mightyblue. I hope you'd like to become a patron if you enjoy what I'm sharing with you each week.

Erin McKenzie loves her dogs. She hiked nearly half of the Appalachian Trail with her favorite, Chevy, before having to leave the trail through injury. Chevy was such a star that Erin was totally aware, yet totally happy, to be a sideshow in the Camaro and Chevy team. She then took on the Colorado Trail with three of her dogs, for reasons that will become apparent in her story. Her resilience and the strength that she found on both trails are inspirational. These pictures of Chevy and Camaro together, and her three loaded-up dogs, convey the peace, the quiet, and the magnificence of both the Appalachian Trail and the Colorado Trail. Erin also sent me another couple of pics, once again with Chevy and one of the team of four at the finish of the Colorado Trail. You can find Erin on Facebook and email her at [email protected]. With Jessa vacationing in Europe, I took the opportunity to chat with Kate Schmidlin's mom, Jeanne. Kate was in episode #21, and I thought her instinct to suggest that I should speak with her mother was a good one. There can't be many tougher things for a mother to do than to wave goodbye to her daughter as she plunges into a forest. You'll really love Jeanne's attitude. Our old friend Grizz resurfaced recently in Florida and we spent several hours together, so I took the opportunity to record a fear and loathing section with him. As always, he was insightful and interesting. Please keep the reviews ticking over in iTunes. They really help me gain visibility (and often make me feel good at the same time). Lastly, don't forget that I'm relying on you, my listeners, to ask me questions you may have for this aging, fat, fool who thought that hiking 2100 miles for my first hike was a good idea. As it turned out, it really was a good idea. If you click here, you'll be taken to the SpeakPipe button.

You get very few opportunities in life to spend time in the company of a living legend, so it was gratifying to learn that Janet Hensley, or Miss Janet, was the real deal. I was lucky enough to have a wide-ranging conversation recently with Miss Janet about all things Appalachian Trail. She proved to be incisive, engaging, and generous with her time and opinions. She is truly the hiker's best friend, putting herself out to help anybody who requests her assistance. When we touched upon some of the occasional bad behavior on the trail, she even jumped to a possible defense of the perpetrators. It is an indication of the regard in which she is held on the trail that she was confident in insisting that I took her personal phone number to make sure that anybody on the trail who needs help can call her. So, with some trepidation, her number is 423-483-0620. She can also be emailed at [email protected] and will be happy if you look her up on Facebook, though apologized because Facebook will not allow her to exceed her current total of 5,000 friends! Jessa is so ready to go that she has taken a week or so off to go on vacation to Europe! Her latest update shows the value of organization. We'll soon be hearing from her as she gets those first miles under her belt. John O'Shea and I just chatted in our Fear & Loathing segment, and I'm really looking forward to spending a week in July with John and his Fat Guys Back in the Woods. If you'd like to join us, email John at [email protected]. Please try to leave a review of the show on iTunes. Click HERE to be taken to the show in the iTunes Store.

Jason is an experienced hiker with a purpose. This year, 2017, will be his fourth attempt at an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. His calm demeanor and desire for simplicity in his life made for an interesting conversation as he prepared to hit the trail in the next few days (March 2017). I'll be following his progress and wish him well as he moves toward Katahdin. You can follow Jason's progress yourself at his blog, Cavey's Adventures. He can also be found on Facebook and Youtube. Just click on the links. With just three weeks to go herself, Jessa is saying her goodbyes. A combined engagement and farewell party probably emphasized the imminent separation, yet she is looking forward ever positively. It's going to be great to catch up with her on the trail. My Fear and Loathing section this week caught up with my fellow Class of 2014 member, The Muffin Man, Sam Weber. As others have said, fear of failure was a strong motivating factor after being an initial concern. Don't forget to check out my books, My Appalachian Trial I: Three Weddings and a Sabbatical and My Appalachian Trial II: Creaking Geezer, Hidden Flagon. Once again, just click on either of the links. They are currently (3/1/2017) at #5 and #9 in the Top 100 Camping Books on the Kindle Store. I have kept the low price of $2.99 each that I set at Christmas. I hope that you check them out to support the show.