Episode #464 - Beth Bakke Stenehjem and Dave Santi (Mighty Blue Class of 2025)

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

Steve Adams

Sports, Wilderness

4.8 • 599 Ratings

🗓️ 26 December 2024

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today, we meet the two members of the Mighty Blue Class of 2025, with Beth Bakke Stenehjem and Dave Santi under the spotlight.

Beth is my friend, having hiked twice with her, enjoying her sunny smile and encouraging manner. She's heading out there at the end of March, with her stepson, Andrew. The two of them will make a terrific couple as they plough their way north. I'm looking forward to hearing their journey.

Equally, Dave Santi is set up to succeed. Dave is from the West Coast, coming east to take on the AT and ready to pitch himself into the challenge. He has a dogged determination–which he'll need, of course. You can follow Dave on the Trek at https://thetrek.co/author/davesanti/, while he also has a separate Facebook page set up to share his hike. You can follow that at https://www.facebook.com/dave.hikes.the.appalachian.trail/ .

Our book reading, Happy Hiking, by my friend, Emily Leonard is–of course–written from a woman's POV and a woman's voice. I hope you enjoy listening to my reading of it. If you'd like to buy the book, you can find it on Amazon at Happy Hiking: Falling in love on the Appalachian Trail, or on Emily's website, at Happy Hiking.

I used my hike earlier this year on the South West Coast Path in the UK 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 https://parentingmattersfl.org/eventer/hike-with-steve-empowering-parents-one-step-at-a-time/edate/2024-04-15/. 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/

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.

Additionally, you can "Zelle" us a donation to steve@hikingradionetwork.com. It works! Trust me!

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,
0:24.0	joins Steve and his guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine.
0:33.9	Hey guys, welcome back to the podcast.
0:36.0	This is Mighty Blue on the Applachian Trail, the ultimate
0:38.2	middle out crisis. I'm your host, Steve Mighty Blue Adams. First off, I need to apologise
0:43.9	for not wishing you all a very happy Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate at this time
0:48.7	of the year. It was only when I listened back that I became aware of that emission. So,
0:52.8	before I move on, I want to wish
0:54.8	you all a happy new year with bells on. Job done. This week, I get the opportunity to introduce
1:00.5	you all to two people who I'm going to be following on the trail next year in my Mighty Blue
1:05.1	Class of 2025. I've made the mistake in the past of trying to get too many people on the show
1:10.7	for the class and things haven't worked out precisely how I'd hoped. I mean, don't get me wrong. I've always loved this part of the show and we've certainly heard some epic tales over the years. But this year, I decided I'd follow just two, a woman and a man. I already knew which woman I wanted to follow as I'd hide with her a couple of times and I knew that she'd be an awesome guest on the show.
1:28.0	You've already met her before as she told us
1:32.9	about her Portuguese Camino sometime last year. Her name is Beth Bacistangam and I know you're
1:38.0	going to love hearing how she gets on with her stepson Andrew next April. Beth will be on in a moment.
1:44.0	The guy I chose from a bunch of fellas who reached out to me. As soon as I started speaking to all of them, I realised how difficult it was going to be to pick just one. But I was determined not to give myself too many people to follow, and I had to make a choice. Dave Santee has long been a supporter of the podcast, and he turned out to be a friendly, intelligent bloke who I'm delighted to be following next year.
2:03.8	We're going to hear from Dave after Beth.
2:06.3	I told all the guys who I didn't pick that I'd love to have them on the pod as a main guest once they've done with their 2025 hike.
2:12.6	So everyone's a winner.
2:14.5	If I didn't reach out to you after you'd requested to be on the show,
2:22.9	it is only because I screwed up and overlooked your email somehow. I'm offering you the same offer.
	...

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