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

Episode #364 - Mel Vogel

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

Steve Adams

Sports, Wilderness

4.8599 Ratings

🗓️ 9 March 2023

⏱️ 92 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We have a true one-of-a-kind story today. Mel Vogel set out to hike the Trans Canada Trail in June 2017. Even when part of the trail was closed for recreational use during Covid, Mel remained on or near the trail in the Yukon, eventually completing it in November 2022.

During her hike, Mel touched the Atlantic, Pacific, and even the Arctic Ocean, finding kindness and friends along the way, as well as her new friend, Malo, a lost dog.

Mel and Steve share a personal conversation that touches nerves and reveals a strength of character within Mel. You can learn more about Mel and her remarkable journey at the following links:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-walking-trans-canada-trail/

https://tctrail.ca/news/melanie-vogel/

https://torontolife.com/memoir/three-years-ago-i-left-toronto-to-walk-across-canada-now-im-riding-out-the-pandemic-in-an-arctic-community-of-nine-people/

Our Class of 2023 is starting to hit the trail, one by one. This week, we catch up with three of them.

Chuck Faulkinberry has to share some difficult news, Jessica Lang-Wright is having problems keeping warm at night (check the picture below), and Sonny Blackwell is racking up milestones along the way.

Our Woods Hole Weekend Video Series is now available for purchase. With over 13 hours of solid content, with tips, tricks, hacks, and advice, our presenters prepared our guests for their own AT thru-hike. You can check out the trailer and various subjects covered at the link below:

https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/p/woods-hole-weekend/

For the next week only (closing at midnight on March 15th), there is a discount of $100 for early purchasers. If you've invested your time and money in your thru-hike, you should consider this series as a critical investment, from people who have all completed thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail.

If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6.

If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.

You can also support our shows by visiting our online "Merch" store. Check it out at https://hrntradingpost.com/, or click on the store button on our network website at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com.

If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

You are listening to the Hiking Radio Network, where we talk the walk with shows by hikers

0:05.3

about hikers for everybody. Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, the ultimate midlife crisis, joins Stephen his guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine.

0:33.5

Hey guys, nice to be back for the podcast. This is episode number 364 of Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, the ultimate midlife crisis. And this week, as promised last week, we've got an amazing person on the show. Mel Vogel last year completed the Trans-Canada Trail after five years on the trail. She had adventures, she had a lot of solitude, and she even took on responsibility for a dog

0:58.2

she met along the way, which changed her journey quite substantially.

1:01.6

We'll hear from Mel in a moment.

1:03.6

And this week, we're not going to end the show with another reading from then the hail came,

1:07.8

because I've not only got Mel, but I've also got catch-ups with three of our

1:12.2

Mighty Blue Class of 23 and another segment from Dr Lynn. This time on the subject of wounds

1:17.5

and how to treat them. So as I say, we've got a lot to get through. So I thought you'd all be

1:21.8

okay if I left out the reading this week. We'll continue next week as George is into New Jersey.

1:27.1

And I was at the 80 kickoff this past weekend,

1:30.0

presenting to the people there on the subject of the adventure of a lifetime. It seemed to go well.

1:34.7

In fact, the organiser started hurry me out towards the end as I spoke for about an hour. Let's face it,

1:39.7

when you start talking about the AT, it's kind of difficult to stop. Several of you showed up to support me for which I am extremely grateful.

1:47.3

By the way, in a couple of weeks, I'll be interviewing, just short interviews,

1:51.0

three of the people I met there selling products, which I liked.

1:54.6

Now, let's meet Mel Vogel, a truly remarkable woman.

1:58.4

Here's Mel.

2:02.2

Today's guest, Melanie Vogel, has recently completed something that a few of us would ever consider, let alone an attempt.

2:10.1

She's just become the first woman to hike the Trans-Canada Trail taken in all three of Canada's oceans,

2:16.3

the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Pacific.

2:18.8

Hey, Mel, thanks so much for coming to join us on the podcast.

...

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