Episode #543 - Days 38-41 Appalachian Trail 2026

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

Steve Adams

Sports, Wilderness

4.8 • 599 Ratings

🗓️ 4 May 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Miraculously, the weather continues to cooperate as yet another four days pass without a minute walking in the rain! I'm in the Roan Highlands and coping well with both uphills and downhills; long may my body cooperate on this trail.

This week, I also managed to talk with Carl, or Fresh, who experienced some of the serendipity on the trail to find his hiking partner. If you're interested in learning more about Carl, check out his website at wherethehelliscarl.com.

Also this week, we meet a guy I've been looking to interview for some weeks since I met him. His name is Ryan Creel, or Grizzly, a positive presence and ready smile when you meet him on trail.

I'm using Polarsteps to record my AT thru-hike this year. If you'd like to follow my progress between episodes, as well as photos of my journey, please go to https://www.polarsteps.com/mightyblue and click on the follow button.

I used my hike in 2024 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

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0:00.0	You are listening to the Hiking Radio Network, where we talk the walk with shows by hikers
0:06.1	about hikers for everybody.
0:24.2	Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, the ultimate midlife crisis,
0:29.3	joins Stephen his guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine.
0:37.4	Hey guys, and welcome back to the podcast.
0:38.2	We have continued to be blessed by magnificent weather
0:42.0	and another four days have passed, but still no rain inside it.
0:46.8	As I recall this, I'm on the verge of going past 400 miles
0:50.3	and I'm feeling stronger than ever.
0:52.4	But you know what?
0:53.5	I don't think I've walked in rain for more
0:56.3	than one hour of this entire trip. So doing 400 miles and by the way, still only two falls,
1:02.9	is quite something. When I left you last week, I had stayed overnight at Emily and Bruce's
1:08.2	friend Sharon's home and Irwin was going to be my destination
1:11.6	for the next day. This meant that I would be staying in a bed for three straight days, so a couple nights back in the woods would do me no harm at all. But before we hear how these last four days are panned out, let's hear from our sponsor, Polar Steps. If you're heading out on a long height this year, which I am, I've got something I think you're going to love. It's called Polar Steps. It's a travel tracking app that's going to become a favourite with hikers. You set your start date, let it run quietly in the background, and it maps your entire journey automatically, all on your own beautiful spinning 3D globe. And don't worry, the tracking feature uses about 4% of your battery on a single charge, so it's not going to kill your phone when you're out there. You can add photos and short journal entries as you go, so your map shows you where you were, and your words remind you of what that day actually felt like. There's a light social layer too. Family and friends can follow along, or you can keep it completely private. As every hiker says, hike your own hike. And when you're done, you can relive the whole thing in the app or turn it into a stunning coffee table book with your root, stats, photos and stories. And did I tell you that it's entirely free to download and use? The only time you'd be paying anything is if you decide to turn your trip into a book.
2:19.9	That's polar steps.
2:21.1	Track it now, treasure it forever.
2:27.9	Day 38, last Wednesday,
2:31.0	Spivey Gap, mile 333.5,
2:39.0	to Uncle John is in Irwin, mile 344.5 and 11 mile day. Well, this is one of my easiest days so far.
2:42.0	After Emily made me breakfast, Bruce drove me back to Spivey Gap, and I started the day with a gentle up.
2:50.0	Do you know, I've met lots of people on trail,
	...

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