Today's guest has recently completed a truly epic journey. Briana DeSanctis set out to hike the American Discovery Trail in January 2022. 6,800 miles later, having taken in all the seasons–twice–Briana finished her personal odyssey in February this year, becoming the first solo woman to do so.

Having thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail almost a decade ago, Briana considered that it wasn't enough for her, so she set her sights on this epic hike and worked to accumulate the funds she needed. On the way, she discovered that no woman had completed this hike, so the impetus to become the first woman doubly motivated her.

She worked as a journalist throughout the hike, and you can see her column here. https://dailybulldog.com/author/briana-desanctis/. You can find out more about Briana through her social media links on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/rockygoeshiking and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/brianadesanctis/, while her website, http://www.brianadesanctis.com/ , will give you even more about her.

After Briana, I share a short journal entry from a fun group hike of the Virginia Triple Crown, which I used as a shakedown for my upcoming hike in the UK. It was also a chance to catch up with fellow team members of Team 6 from my TSX Challenge hike in 2022. A couple of other friends joined us, and we had a blast.

   

I'm using my hike in the UK on the South West Coast Path to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I've been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by visiting Hike with Steve - Empowering Parents, One Step at a Time | Parenting Matters %. And, maybe, you'll get a personal picture of me thanking you with your name etched in the sand during my hike. I hope you want to support this critical mission.

Don't forget. Our entire series of videos from our Woods Hole Weekend in 2022 is now FREE and available at my YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA8ImK4qpNc&list=PLu8u88nsJtgWZxT8DLwEW2yXcz4gT6HXs There, you'll find all sorts of tips and tricks that our guests took away from the weekend that helped them with their own hikes this year. Check it out.

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/

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