Episode #390 - Earl Porter (A.Ham)

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

Steve Adams

Sports, Wilderness

4.8 • 599 Ratings

🗓️ 7 September 2023

⏱️ 109 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In our last episode before the 9/11 Anniversary, Earl "Chico" Porter shares his inspirational story, and mission, to help veterans contemplating suicide. Part of this was to take on a winter SOBO hike of the Appalachian Trail, starting on the 20th Anniversary in 2021. You'll hear how Earl fared, as well as his deeper message, which will resonate with most of us.

Earl has supplied me with several links, including his Blog:

https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2023/06/one-way-to-mitigate-the-risk-of-post-traumatic-stress/

He was also on the Hazardground Podcast and others at:

Hazardground Podcast Ep. 292 - Earl Porter (U.S. Army / Something Outta Nothing) - Youtube

Veteran Trash Talk - Trash Talk Hour Episode 93

A Conversation With Greg C. Washington and Lou Koon

Finally, a couple of articles about Earl and his mission:

Law student parlays difficult beginnings into success in Army and academics (emory.edu)

Alumnus shines light on veteran suicide (ung.edu)

Our Class of 2023 is coming to a conclusion for two of our members, with Mary Marks and Mark Carpenter just days away from Katahdin, while Jessica Lang-Wright and Joanne Flagg continue their quest into the Autumn.

We were also lucky to hear from Doctor Lynne this week, who answered one of Mary Marks's questions on Trench Foot. If you'd like to read more about it and, indeed, other items Lynne has covered in the past, click on this link to gain access to everything.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CJ5llgK7FUnbKnbtbWlsP6v_4dNentVa?usp=sharing

As a by the by, Lynne refers to Forest Gump and Lieutenant Dan on this very subject. Here's the clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eobm6s5ASVE

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.

I often ask listeners for ideas on who to interview, and I'm sure several of you say, "I could do that. I've got an awesome story to tell." You're the person we need to hear from. If you'd like to be interviewed on the podcast, just register as a guest on the link below, and I'll be in touch.

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.
0:33.4	Hey guys, is that time again? Thursday morning and another episode of Mighty Blue in the Appalachian
0:38.3	Trail, the ultimate mid-life crisis hits the airways. This is episode number 390 of the show
0:43.8	and the date of release in the week of 9-11, which is coming up next Monday, the date of release
0:49.0	is significant. We have Earl Porter as our guest today, Earl or A.D. Ham, which will mean something to you if you've
0:56.0	ever watched the show Hamilton, had what could reasonably be called a difficult life as a
1:01.2	youngster. I'm going to let Earl fill you in on this because his story is incredibly inspiring,
1:07.2	taking in a winter sober of the Appalachian Trail starting on September 11th to raise awareness of veteran suicide.
1:14.5	He's a fascinating guy and he proves that adversity can be overcome by application and asking for help,
1:20.0	something that most of us hikers know a little bit about. Oh, we'll be on shortly.
1:24.7	And I'm afraid it's another massive show today with not only all of our surviving
1:30.1	class of 23 members reporting in, but also the very popular Dr. Lynn answering a specific
1:35.9	question from one of our class members that may well surprise you. Given that we'll likely run
1:41.0	to about an hour and three quarters, I'm sorry to report that we'll be missing out for a second straight week and other section of George's
1:47.6	fantasies, then the hell came. I thought about including it, but a two-hour show is getting
1:52.2	a touch too much, don't you think? Two of our members will be completing the trail in the
1:56.9	next two weeks, so things should calm down a bit after that. Anyway, let's get to it and meet Earl Chico Porter,
2:03.9	known on the trail as A.com.
2:09.8	Our guest today has had a, to be honest with you,
2:13.3	a startling life so far.
2:16.0	And he's smiling, so I'm thinking he understands that as well.
	...

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