Episode #24 - Jason McElroy (Cavey)

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

Steve Adams

Wilderness, Sports

4.8 • 599 Ratings

🗓️ 2 March 2017

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, the ultimate midlife crisis, joined Stephen his guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine.
0:26.0	Hi, and thanks so much for coming back to the show. We're episode number 24 today with another
0:33.4	member of the newly minted class of 2017, Jason McElroy or KV. It turns out that he was
0:41.2	also a member of the class of 2012, 2013 and 2014. Each of those attempts were thwarted, yet he's
0:49.0	back to make his fourth final and we hope successful attempt. Jason's story is testimony to the pull that the AT exerts upon those who attempt it.
0:58.8	I'm sure you'll all be rooting for him as he sets out in just a few days' time on March the 5th.
1:04.9	Jessa is down to the last few weeks of preparation as she leaves on March the 23rd.
1:10.3	We spoke early yesterday morning and I discovered
1:13.0	that she is an hour behind me. It was 5.45 in the morning for her and 6.45 for me. Sorry,
1:20.1	Jessa. On this week's fear and loathing section, I brought back my friend the muffin
1:26.6	man or Sam Weber. It's always great
1:29.3	to talk with Sam and this was no exception. I had a bit of news myself this week that I thought
1:35.3	I'd like to share with you. Last year, as I've mentioned a few times on this show, I attempted to
1:40.9	hike the John Muir Trail, unsuccessfully due to a high-altitude pulmonary edema.
1:46.7	The elevation just kicked my butt and I returned home with my tail between my legs.
1:52.7	It's a failure that has irked me since then, so this year I applied again.
1:58.0	The rules have changed a bit with a single fax allowing you to be entered into the
2:01.9	lottery for a permit every day for three weeks. If you're unsuccessful, you need another fax for the next
2:08.4	three weeks. I was denied my permit for more than seven straight weeks until last Friday,
2:15.8	when I got confirmation that my number had been drawn.
2:19.5	I've got two permits for a start at Yosemite from August 11th. I can't tell you how excited I am.
2:27.3	It's got to give me a few logistical issues with this show, but I'll have to work something out.
	...

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