Episode #551 - Steve Adams (Mighty Blue) - A.T. 2026 debrief
Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Steve Adams
4.8 • 599 Ratings
🗓️ 4 June 2026
⏱️ 46 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As I did before when I finished the Appalachian Trail in 2019, I got a friend of mine, Glenn Hebert, from the Horse Radio Network, to debrief me following my decision to leave the trail last Thursday. It never feels good to report upon something which you've been unable to complete but, as you'll hear, I have a plan!!
My disappointment at not finishing what I set out to do has been tempered somewhat; first, because I was able to complete 5,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail, and second, because there is a way forward for me and my hike.
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 taught the walk with shows by hikers |
| 0:05.3 | about hikers for everybody. |
| 0:19.3 | Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, the ultimate midlife crisis, joins Stephen his guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine. |
| 0:33.9 | Hey guys, thanks for coming back to the podcast. You're listening to Mighty Blue on the Appalachian |
| 0:38.1 | Trail, the ultimate midlife crisis. And I'm your host, Steve Adams, or Mighty Blue. The eagle |
| 0:43.5 | item among you will have spotted the different artwork this week, suggesting that I'm no longer on |
| 0:47.4 | trail. And the word debrief in the title probably suggests that this is over for this year. |
| 0:53.2 | Well, it's certainly true that I'm off |
| 0:55.6 | trail, having called it last Thursday, just as many of you were listening to my last podcast when I'd |
| 1:00.4 | been resting for about four days in the hope that my leg and whatever it was that was aiding me, |
| 1:05.1 | was going to let me continue my hike from weary feet hostel. But I put on my new boots from |
| 1:09.8 | oboes, having abandoned the ultras I bought at trail days, |
| 1:13.0 | and I knew almost immediately that I was done. |
| 1:16.1 | I could hardly walk, so I made the decision to go home and take stock, |
| 1:20.0 | get myself checked out by my own doctor, and make further decisions once I'd done that. |
| 1:25.5 | As you can readily imagine, I was gutted by the decision, though pretty proud of myself for |
| 1:30.7 | the 610 miles I had done at that point. And as I was at the airport, I convinced myself that my |
| 1:37.0 | through hike was over, but a few words that Purple Haze at Weary Feet said to me were ringing |
| 1:41.5 | in my ears. She said, you would just have to come back again |
| 1:44.9 | and carry on from here. I nodded to her, but I didn't really think I'd had the, I don't know, |
| 1:50.0 | the heart to take that seriously. But as the day went on, I surprised myself by thinking, |
| 1:54.6 | yeah, I can go back and treat this as a long-year-all section hike or lash and still get |
... |
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