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

Episode #513 - Lisa Laidlow (High Viz)

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

Steve Adams

Sports, Wilderness

4.8 • 599 Ratings

🗓️ 30 October 2025

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Lisa Laidlow came to the trail when she became an empty-nester. She had always been an outdoor girl–often along with her father–yet it was only fairly recently that she returned to hiking and discovered the idea of a thru-hike.

As a black woman on the trail, she was embraced by hikers, though had a few uncomfortable encounters along the way. Despite these rare occasions, Lisa is a strong advocate of getting people of whatever color into the woods and on trails.

You can follow Lisa on various social media platforms; on Facebook at Breathe:AdventuresoftheSoul | Baltimore MD , on Instagram at Lisa Laidlow (@breathe_adventuresofthesoul) , and on her YouTube channel at Breathe:Adventures of The Soul(HighViz) .

Also this week, Bobby Campbell, or Sloggy, shared his knowledge of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT). Bobby has done the Maine section of this vast, transcontinental trail and share his experience both here and on his YouTube channel at Hiking the Maine section of the International Appalachian Trail .

I used my hike last 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 Hike with Steve - Empowering Parents, One Step at a Time | Parenting Matters %. 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 Woods Hole Weekend - Trailer 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. Come on the show!

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 Hiking Radio Network .

Additionally, you can join our membership at Steve (Mighty Blue) Adams. It's worth checking out what is on offer for you there.

If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, 3821 Milflores Drive, Sun City Center, FL 33573. Any support is gratefully received.

Additionally, you can "Zelle" me a donation to steve@hikingradionetwork.com. Or "Venmo" me at @‌Steve-Adams-105. They both work!

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,

0:24.0

joins Stephen his guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine.

0:33.4

Hey guys, I'm home again.

0:35.3

It's great to be back home, but I've had an awesome time and I'll tell you about that in a moment.

0:39.8

You're listening to episode number 513 of the Mighty Blue Podcasts, and I've got a great show lined up for you today.

0:46.0

First up, we're going to meet Lisa Ladlow, or HiViz. Lisa is a brand new through hiker, and we share a pretty frank conversation.

0:53.3

She only discovered the

0:54.3

idea of through hiking very recently, so her achievement is even more impressive. Then we're

0:59.2

going to hear from a friend of the show, Bobby Campbell or Sloggy, who we followed along with

1:03.5

on his successful through height last year. Bobby texted me the other day about the International

1:08.2

Apple Action Trail and as I knew relatively nothing about it, asked him to come on the show and share what he had learned about it, having completed the main section. He's always good to chat with and we'll hear from him after we hear from Lisa. Thanks for everybody who came up to me at the Alder Gathering where I was at a table selling my books. People were so kind and I saw a few books while I was there. That surprised me. The nerves were a bit jangly on the Saturday evening as I did the live podcast in front of, I don't know, 200 people. But really, those people were on my side. They were interested in what my guests had to say. And even if I do say so myself, my guests gave them good value for the evening. We recorded the video of the whole thing, and as I mentioned in a Facebook post, they say the camera adds ÂŁ10. Well, it must have been at least seven cameras there if I was like to see. Still, it went well, and I got a lot of nice, kind words afterwards and on the following morning. Then, Dana and I went on a road trip, taking in every state on the Appalachian Trail and I even got a walking on the following morning. Then Dana and I went on a road trip,

2:01.3

taking in every state on the Appalachian Trail,

2:03.7

and I even got a walking on the trail in Harper's Ferry,

2:06.2

as well as on Mount Washington,

2:07.9

where I took the heaviest ride up the mountain

2:10.1

with snow and ice at the top.

2:12.0

It was terrific,

2:13.0

and gave her at least an idea of what I'll be facing next year.

2:16.2

We left the gathering and drove

2:17.6

to Colonial Williamsburg for a bit of American history before stopping overnight with friends

2:21.5

Hugh and Kerry Eacrath who were wonderful hosts. Then it was Atlantic City, which on that

...

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