Episode #393 - Laura Howe (Moonpants)

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

Steve Adams

Sports, Wilderness

4.8 • 599 Ratings

🗓️ 28 September 2023

⏱️ 85 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We have a newly minted Appalachian Trail thru-hiker as our main guest on the show today. Laura Howe, or Moonpants, took on the trail with gusto. Near the end, she had a terrifying river crossing that eventually necessitated an SOS call. She made it, but had an up-close look at how things can go quickly wrong.

Her can-do attitude shines through our conversation and, despite her untimely premature exit, she was able to get back on and finish the hike.

You can follow Laura through Instagram at https://instagram.com/moonpants.hikes

Both Jessica and Joanne continue heading in opposite directions, with Jessica approaching Monson and the 100 Mile Wilderness while Joanne is about to meet some ponies in the Grayson Highlands.

We also introduce you to our latest podcast on the channel, The Platinum Blazing Podcast, with Bruce (RTK) Matson as the host. This show is scheduled to hit next Wednesday, October 4, though Apple may have something to say about that! Rest assured, I'll be posting on our HikingRadioNetwork Facebook page to let you know it's up and running. After that, it'll be released every Wednesday morning.

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. https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/mighty-blue-on-the-appalachian-trail-the-ultimate-mid-life-c/guests/intake/

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

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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 Steve and his guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine.
0:33.5	Welcome back to the podcast. You're listening to Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, the ultimate midlife crisis.
0:38.7	I'm your host Steve Adams, otherwise known as Mighty Blue. This is episode number 393 of the podcast, and today we have one of the youngest through hikers we've ever spoken with on the show.
0:50.2	Laura Howell, or Moonpants, is a remarkably mature young woman, and at the age of just 18, she completed a through hike of the AT earlier this year. I was struck by her maturity and her bravery in how she took this on, and we'll hear from Laura in a minute. With just two members of our Mighty Blue Class of 23 still out there, after the two epic finishes of Mark Carpenter and Mary Marks in the last week or so,
1:12.3	we get updates from both Jessica and Joanne as they head in different directions on the trial.
1:17.4	Jessica will be on after Laura, while Joanne will close out the show today.
1:20.9	So I've had horrendous technical difficulties putting this particular show together,
1:26.1	and I've decided to admit the next part of the
1:28.0	reading of Then the Hail Came by George Tavanos. This is mainly to avoid a heart attack on my part
1:33.5	rather than my apparent laziness. We'll pick up with George again next week. Also today,
1:38.9	and I mentioned something about it last week, we have a special guest who's joining the
1:43.1	network for a brand new podcast,
1:44.9	starting next week. He'll be introducing himself and the podcast between our two class of 23 members.
1:51.3	So first, let's meet Laura Howe, or Moonpanse. Today we've got one of the youngest through
1:59.9	hikers we've ever had in our nearly 400 episodes of the show.
2:03.6	This is Laura Howe or Moonpants.
2:06.1	I'll ask you about that in a minute.
2:07.9	Hey Laura, thanks for coming on the podcast.
2:10.4	Yeah, of course.
2:11.4	Thanks for having me.
2:12.6	And thanks for wearing your summiting hat, which nobody can see right now, but it's a pretty cool thing.
	...

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