Podcasts · Sports

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

Steve Adams

300 episodes

An overweight, 61-year-old retiree, with zero hiking experience, decided to hike the entire 2,185.3 mile length of the Appalachian Trail in 2014. What could possibly go wrong? As his brother, Mike, commented, "It's a bit like taking up boxing and fighting Mike Tyson in your first bout." Join Steve and his guests as they discuss all aspects of the trail, from gear to Lyme Disease, then back to trail magic and injury.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Episode #590 - Days 192-195 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 43 min

    Nate and Amanda have gone home and I'm now hiking with Nuke again, as well as Lizard King. It is great to be in a small tramily as the hike draws to a close. Along the way, I chatted with Huck, from Huckleberry's…

  2. Episode #589 - Days 189-191 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 30 min

    We're closing in on the end of this somewhat circuitous hike, with less than ten days and just over 100 miles to go. Many times, this has felt a fool's errand and an impossible task, yet here I am, on the brink of a…

  3. Episode #588 - Days 185-188 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 34 min

    With less than 200 miles to go, Nate and I were joined by my friend, Amanda Aguilard, forming our southbound tramily for three days. We got cold but loved the challenge. Along the way, I had a chat with Adam Stanley,…

  4. Episode #587 - Days 182-184 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 20 min

    Virginia is providing us with spectacularly beautiful views and leaf-peeping, as well as some of the wettest and hottest days of this trip. Along with that, the hiking is challenging but definitely doable. The really…

  5. Episode #586 - Days 178-181 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 30 min

    These past four days have been spent hiking with Nate, and in the last couple of days, we have been blessed by our personal trail angel, Katie Westling. We're crushing the miles and I'm now just 236 miles from the end.…

  6. Episode #585 - Days 175-177 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 31 min

    I'm now in a tramily of two, having been joined by my buddy, Nate for a few weeks. We're in Shenandoah and loving the smooth ride the trail gives us, not to mention the occasional wayside at which to stock up on…

  7. Episode #584 - Days 171-174 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 41 min

    Sorry for the delay in getting this out to you. Suffice it to say that I've had one or two technical issues!! I'm nearly a week into the SOBO part of my Appalachian Trail hike this year and the pieces are falling into…

  8. Episode #583 - Days 168-170 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 33 min

    There is a bit of everything in today's show, with an epic Katahdin day, a dicey travel day, and my first day heading south, out of Harper's Ferry. Along the way, I got T-time and Hugh to share their experiences up on…

  9. Episode #582 - Days 164-167 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 35 min

    The 100 Mile Wilderness and the impending weather changed our plans several times this week. So, instead of taking nine days to get through it, we pushed on and got out in 7 days. Then, last Saturday, we reached…

  10. Episode #581 - Days 161-163 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 35 min

    It's been a long time coming, with cell service almost non-existent in the 100 Mile Wilderness, but I'm at last able to bring you Thursday's podcast. This covers our foray into the wilderness with our full packs for…

  11. Episode #580 - Days 157-160 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 29 min

    We've reached Shaw's in Monson, AND done the first 30 miles of the 100 Mile Wilderness. Maine continues to impress us, with stiff climbs and stunning views. It has become my favorite state on the Appalachian Trail. Oh…

  12. Episode #579 - Days 154-156 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 27 min

    The three days from Sunday saw a nearo, a zero, and a near 15-miler. All part of the magic of an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. But I'm currently in Monson and ready to take on the 100 Mile Wilderness. Along the way, I…

  13. Episode #578 - Days 150-153 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 47 min

    We lost one of our tramily this week, as Nuke pushed forward to achieve his summit several days before us in order to honor a friend back home. With much of the difficulty of Maine behind us—and Katahdin our only big…

  14. Episode #577 - Days 147-149 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 36 min

    After our Slackpack Palooza into Rangely, we resumed our full packs for the three day hike to Stratton. It had been wonderful to have been so cosseted by our friends, Sherpa and Rita, but it was time to get back in the…

  15. Episode #576 - Days 143-146 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 26 min

    A four day slackpack Palooza!! Staying with friends for four nights and having them slackpacking you is a treat, and that is exactly what we've been doing for the last four days. We've enjoyed the reduced load and put…

  16. Episode #575 - Days 139-142 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 42 min

    We're into Maine now and if we thought we'd left our difficult days in the past, we were sorely mistaken. My ass has continued to be kicked and The Mahoosuc Notch revealed a lethal side in the wet. It's been quite the…

  17. Episode #574 - Days 136-138 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 39 min

    The miles have been cut back drastically, yet we are on the verge of leaving New Hampshire behind and entering Maine. It has been both glorious and difficult, a challenge I expected, yet probably underestimated. Along…

  18. Episode #573 - Days 133-135 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 23 min

    New Hampshire has taken its toll on our weekly mileage, but the beauty and difficulty of the trail up here is staggering in both regards. My memory is also getting a bit of a workout, as I'm seeing the trail with fresh…

  19. Episode #572 - Days 129-132 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 35 min

    New Hampshire has been doing New Hampshire things, like kicking my butt, giving me spectacular daily views, and providing Nuke and me with some of the best hiking of this trip so far. The Kinsman's and Franconia Ridge…

  20. Episode #571 - Days 126-128 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 30 min

    We're not only pushing through New Hampshire, but we've reached the spot where the rubber meets the road; namely, Mt Moosilauke, the first of the 4000-footers that we climb. It was an exhilarating climb, yet one well…

  21. Episode #570 - Days 122-125 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 41 min

    We're at last in New Hampshire, and the drama is ramping up, with longer, higher, and more intense climbs. From previous experience, I know that I've only done the easiest section of New Hampshire so far, but I'm ready…

  22. Episode #569 - Days 119-121 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 19 min

    A very short episode today, with just three days to report and no interviews. Such are the problems of reporting from a trail with limited WiFi opportunities!! I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru-hike this year.…

  23. Episode #568 - Days 115-118 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 48 min

    Vermont has been an unexpected pleasure. I don't recall it giving me such great hiking last time, and that, along with new and old friends, has made this last state before the"Big Two" a time of pure joy. Along the…

  24. Episode #567 - Days 112-114 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 40 min

    We're in damp Vermont right now, with the mud and water making things a touch more tricky. The trail continues to be challenging, with the sure knowledge that it is only going to get tougher going forward. Along the…

  25. Episode #566 - Days 108-111 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 48 min

    With record amounts of rainfall this week in Massachusetts, Nuke and I decided to wait it out during a zero day in Lee. Once we got back on trail the following day, we had to cope with swollen stream crossings that…

  26. Episode #565 - Days 105-107 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 35 min

    It's been another week of concern over my recent falls, but also one where I've had to manage my hike more proactively. I had a zero day in an attempt to reset and, by and large, I'm happy with how the past few days…

  27. Episode #564 - Days 101-104 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 39 min

    With the rocks finding new ways to hurt me, I'm falling a little too often for comfort. I'm now into Massachusetts, so I know that the rocks will only grow more vicious as I head north. I need to work out what's…

  28. Episode #563 - Days 98-100 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 27 min

    I'm into Connecticut now, with the terrain a little more benign than the past few weeks. Added to this, I'm on a bit of a slackpacking run with my friend, Dr Lynne, so my progress is good. i wasn't able to snag any…

  29. Episode #562 - Days 94-97 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 48 min

    Smoke from Canada and heat have conspired to test me this week, though it was the smoke that was likely more dangerous. That said, another state, New Tork, will be in the rear view mirror by this Tuesday. Along the…

  30. Episode #561 - Days 91-93 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 29 min

    It's been another steamy few days that have fully exhausted me. Miles have become harder due to my tiredness, not the terrain. I'm hoping a change in the weather will revive me once more. Along the way, I chatted with…

  31. Episode #560 - Days 87-90 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 45 min

    This week has given me several days of slackpacking, with generous listeners helping me out so freely. I couldn't have been more humbled to have been helped in this way. Along the way, I ran into a friend from 2019,…

  32. Episode #559 - Days 84-86 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 23 min

    After the heat of last week, the temperatures have fallen and rain is starting to wash out the air. I've continued to put in the miles, including another 20-mile day that enabled me to get out of Pennsylvania. As a…

  33. Episode #558 - Days 80-83 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 44 min

    Our sweltering weather hit us hard this week, with a couple of days above 100°. Despite the searing heat, I've been able to maintain my mileage goals. The rocks have slowed me, though Pennsylvania hasn't been as bad as…

  34. Episode #557 - Day 77-79 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 37 min

    We're facing a tough week or two of excessive heat, with this week the fiercest so far. With temperatures up in the late 90s and early 100s, I have to take this seriously. I've had to curtail my mileage but I still…

  35. Episode #556 - Days 73-76 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 28 min

    The miles continue to pile up, with a twenty-mile day this week. It's true that the terrain is particularly conducive to twenty-mile plus days, yet I've been surprised at the speed at which I've been able to get back…

  36. Episode #555 - Days 70-72 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 42 min

    I've been upping the mileage this week and am back to the levels I was achieving prior to my shin splints. I know, I need to be careful, but it is clear that I don't lose my "legs" during my enforced stoppage. This…

  37. Episode #554 - Days 66-69 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 32 min

    At last, I'm back on trail, choosing Harper's Ferry as my start point to launch my hike to get to Katahdin before October. These first few days back on trail have been testing, as I knew they would be, but I've been…

  38. Episode #553 - Back to the trail and lessons learned

    · 26 min

    This is a bit of a transition episode for the podcast. I wanted to talk about going back to the trail this week, but there isn't a great deal to say about it that I haven't already said. So this week I sat down and…

  39. Episode #552 - Greg Fisher (Dolphin)

    · 58 min

    Today, Greg Fisher takes us back to the Appalachian Trail in the 1960s, when he and two other 16-year-olds took a 17-day hike on the trail in New Hampshire, taking in the awesome Franconia Ridge along the way. For…

  40. Episode #551 - Steve Adams (Mighty Blue) - A.T. 2026 debrief

    · 46 min

    As I did before when I finished the Appalachian Trail in 2019, I got a friend of mine, Glenn Hebert, from the Horse Radio Network, to debrief me following my decision to leave the trail last Thursday. It never feels…

  41. Episode #550 - Days 63-65 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 43 min

    A whole bunch of zeroes as I try to recover from the recent injury to my leg. I've been patient and rested my leg, but the arrival of new Oboz shoes to replicate as closely as possible the sole of my previous boots,…

  42. Episode #549 - Days 59-62 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 41 min

    A bit of a critical week to recap today, with an injury that landed me in the Emergency Room in Pearisburg. I'm currently off trail but working on getting back to trail in the coming days. Wish me well!! I also found…

  43. Episode #548 - Days 56-58 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 40 min

    I've reached the quarterway point of the Application Trail, and am getting dark thoughts about the weather in the next few months. It is already unseasonably warm, so June through August should be pretty alarming when…

  44. Episode #547 - Days 52-55 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 46 min

    A bit of a break for me this time. It is mid May, and that means Trail Days in Damascus. Dave Santi and his buddies picked me up from about 60 trail miles north of Damascus and brought me back to their Airbnb. What a…

  45. Episode #546 - Days 49-51 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 29 min

    This week, I had my first experience of substantial rain, with the hike out of Damascus. This took us through a 20 mile detour which turned out to be very benign, compared with the previous detour several miles back.…

  46. Episode #545 - Days 45-48 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 38 min

    Early seven weeks in and a weakness is appearing. My feet are starting to get to me everyday, with my boots clearly too small and my toes all getting bruised as a result. I hope to be able to resolve the issue with a…

  47. Episode #544 - Days 42-44 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 35 min

    These last three days started with the vast, glittering openness of the balds in the Roan Highlands, then sent me back into the forest for a night camping by myself and a new hostel discovery. This is such a diverse…

  48. Episode #543 - Days 38-41 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 43 min

    Miraculously, the weather continues to cooperate as yet another four days pass without a minute walking in the rain! I'm in the Roan Highlands and coping well with both uphills and downhills; long may my body cooperate…

  49. Episode #542 - Days 35-37 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 41 min

    I'm starting to manage aspects of my hike in a way I hadn't done so before now. Everything seems to have its own place, and each thing that arises during the day is another piece of the hike to be managed. My pace is…

  50. Episode #541 - Days 31-34 Appalachian Trail 2026

    · 35 min

    Into month two with the miles increasing, I'm truly living in the woods now. Life seems to have become more feral, and the simplicity of my life agrees with my temperament right now. My loneliness seems to have gone…

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