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

With four days of glorious weather forecast, we couldn't wait to get stuck into Franconia Ridge and the Presidential Range, highlighted by summiting Mt Washington. We were entertained in a log cabin, driven down, then back up Mt Washington, and experienced the area exactly how I think it should be experienced. This episode has me at my peak on this trip. Join me again tomorrow as I tell you about...

With Cushy back in the fold, we're finding more ways to do this hike. Having done Moosilauke, we had to fill in our ten-mile gap AFTER the British Open. We worked it out. Then, most surprising to me, Kinsman blew me away. What a blast. We also had the chance to meet the Wander Women and a terrific young man who played guitar for us.

We're in New Hampshire and starting to put together our highlight reel. We've also run into an old friend and teamed up again. The trail has already lived up to expectations, something that I was concerned wouldn't happen for me the second time around. One more thing. I've added to my falls collection!

Trigger and I have been separated and are now reunited. I definitely hike better with him! Vermont has been great training for our upcoming adventures in the Whites and beyond. In this episode, we also chat with a SOBO hiker, a "hidden" hostel owner, and discuss giardia with a young woman who plaited the SOBOer's hair. Only on the Appalachian Trail!

Vermont has provided us with mud, mozzies, and views from the top of mountains. We've been hiking for 20 straight days and I took the decision to take a zero, splitting with Trigger for about four days. We'll get back together on Sunday. Vermont has warmed us up for the adventures in New Hampshire and Maine, so I'm sure I'll one day be grateful for these extra climbs!!

We've had visitors this week. One had a shirt for me while Trigger's boys drove 16 hours to hike seven miles with us. The heat in New England has been stifling and certainly took a toll on us. However, the further north we go, the cooler the temperatures should be. No more immediate visitors so we have an opportunity to put in more good miles in the coming days.

Still pushing on and now into Massachusetts and past 1550 miles. We're managing our reduced mileage and taking several breaks during the day is helping us conserve our energy. I've now lost about 35 lbs while Trigger has dropped over 40 lbs.

With two-thirds of the trail under our feet, the humidity and heat has cranked up to shorten our days. We still aim to finish in the last week of August, but we can see a tougher profile ahead. These past few days have been impacted by, particularly, the humidity and we've come to terms that those 20-milers are a thing of the past. That said, we've been blessed by friends, new and old.

I had a brief day of doubt this week as my body appeared to rebel about the miles I was doing. I soon got over it but even wondered if Lyme Disease was a possibility. I also got the great chance to meet face to face with our very own Dr Lynne, as well as her husband, Bob, and a listener, Eric Gross Jr. Rain slowed us a little last week but the weather is looking good for the coming days.

We've been incredibly lucky with our management of rain so far but, as with all things, this, too, shall end. The rain is upon us and making the New York rocks slicker and far more dangerous. We have a quandary, in that there are blue-blazes to avoid the rocks but we want to stick with the white blazes as long as we possibly can. This purist streak may well be tested soon.

Old friends reunited and new friends met. The trail continues to provide us with serendipitous moments that are the real Trail Magic. Sharing the trail with Trigger, Dodger Dog, Cushy, and a new friend, Barb, has been a delight. I'm fulfilling my desire to watch the last round of each of the Major Golf Championships and zeroing for that purpose today. We'll be back at it tomorrow. Here we come New...

Pennsylvania has claimed another couple of victims; Trigger and I are VERY glad that it is over. Our feet and shoes have suffered from the sharpness of the rocks and, now that we have entered New Jersey, we were hoping that the rocks were going to improve. Our verdict so far; better but still rocky.

Rocks, rocks, and more rocks have made our days tougher but, somewhat perversely, longer and further. We're taking a zero right now but have racked up an average of almost 20 miles a day for over a week. Two more days and we'll be out of Pennsylvania and into New Jersey, state #8.  

Just two days today, with a 35-mile hike into the precipitous descent into Port Clinton. Trigger and I are still together and, as you can see, he has reached for his bug net to keep the flies and mozzies at bay and away from his face. We meet a French Canadian hiker who is taking a novel journey back home and respond to an email from a listener who is concerned at the vitriol on Facebook. As you'd...

We've had a productive few days, including the longest day I've ever done on the AT. Trigger and I are currently a 2-person "tramily" as Cushy and Dodger Dog are a day ahead. We've supported one another and kept each other honest as hikers. The miles are melting away and I'm speculating that I'll finish earlier than I'd previously imagined.  

With the tramily now down to two of us, Trigger and I have made steady progress in Pennsylvania. The Mason Dixon Line, the halfway point, and the 1100 mile marker were all passed in quick succession. We're hoping that Cushy will catch us in the next day or so and that Dodger Dog may slow down so that we can hike with her again. This week, without any interviews, I've added some impressions of how...

The past three days have taken us through Maryland to the edge of Pennsylvania. It didn't turn out to be the easy state I'd remembered. We were honored to have the company of Laurie Potteiger from ATC as our hiking companion for part of the first day and she was a charming and informative guide to all things AT. Another member of the class of 2019 passed me and I was reminded once more that it isn...

We've made it to Harpers Ferry, the traditional halfway point. I'm tired, sore, and feel accomplished. The tramily is starting to break up, a natural progression as members come and go. With a bit of luck, we'll reform in a week or so. The good thing about the trail is that these things are fluid, with plenty of opportunities to meet new and old friends as time goes by. Looking forward to the seco...

We've finished with Shenandoah National Park. It turned out to be a great place that we all thoroughly enjoyed. With Ugh leaving for Trail Days, our little group has been augmented by the lovely Dodger Dog. Her youth and vitality have lifted our spirits. Listeners have continued to reach out and help us while old family friends prove that, as they always do, there is nothing like the love of famil...

It has been a wonderful six days with the Shenandoah National Park as the backdrop. I've been gobsmacked (wonderful English expression) by the kindness of others, with probably the surprise of my life coming on the first morning out of Rockfish Gap. Further "Magic" later in the week confirmed my feeling of being loved.  

Four days of SOBO and NOBO hiking, with RTK joining us for a couple of very wet, quite testing days. We learn about the attacks and the trail has become a sadder place. How we recover from this desperately sad incident will say a lot about the character of the Class of 2019.

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 rtkchallenge@gmail.com...

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.