Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream

In this first episode, Bruce and Steve discuss the origins of Bruce's desire to hike the trail and why it has stayed on his bucket list for over 40 years. We learn a little of Bruce's back story, and Steve finds out that he has quite a rich history of sport throughout his life, having run marathons and hiked the Camino, in Spain. We're hoping to make our show as interactive as possible, with Bruce open to questions–and advice!! You can email him at rtkchallenge@gmail.com. You can find out a whole lot more about Bruce and his adventure at his website, https://returningtokatahdin.com. Please sign up for his newsletter when you visit the page.  We're also so grateful to have the support of Trailtopia as our title sponsor for both this show and Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail. Not only are Trailtopia generously sponsoring our shows, they are also offering two packs of their awesome hiker meals to a lucky winner each and every show. All you have to do is email Steve at steve@mightyblueontheat.com with the question you'd most like to ask Bruce as he prepares for and sets out on his journey. If you'd like to see the wide range of delicious products available to hikers, head over to Trailtopia's website. Next week, we'll be talking with Bruce about the decisions he has already made for his hike. Why NOBO and why February?    

This week, Bruce and Steve talk about two of the most fundamental decisions for all hikers. Which direction do I want to go and, once that is resolved, when do I wish to leave. Bruce has some thoughful answers to these questions and shows that his preparation has been thorough and logical. He considered a SOBO hike and a flip flop, yet he'll be taking the most-travelled path–from Springer Mountain in Georgia and ending half a year later at Mt Katahdin in Maine. He even validates his choice of late February as a start date, much to Steve's bemusement. Please join us again next week, when we discuss the theme of the title of the show: Returning to Katahdin. If you're intrigued by Trailtopia and their adventure food, head on over to their website, Trailtopia.com, and see what they have to offer. Don't forget that you can win a couple of their delicious meals–every week–by sending me questions for Bruce. Believe me, no question is out of bounds. You can email me at steve@mightyblueontheat.com, or you can go directly to Bruce about the show or anything to do with his hike at rtkchallenge@gmail.com. If you'd like to learn even more about Bruce's hike and his great efforts to support the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, visit his website, ReturningtoKatahdin.com.

This week, Bruce and Steve talk about why Bruce chose the name Returning to Katahdin and the theme that it represents. He also explains how his trail name came about. He gets reflective about taking the trail on at this time in his life and the further opportunities he'll have on the trail to simply think. Bruce even talks through the possibility that he's in love with the idea of the hike as opposed to the hike itself, believing that by returning to Katahdin he'll discover what his dream was all about. A listener, Ryan Carr, came up with a question that asked Bruce to draw upon his Camino experience and the anticipated cultural differences between the two hikes. If you'd like to learn more about Bruce and his hike, as well as about his goal of raising money for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, visit his website, ReturningToKatahdin.com. While you're online, why not also check out the site of our great sponsor, Trailtopia.       

Bruce and Steve discuss the various aspects of Bruce's preparation for his 2018 thru-hike. They consider whether or not the challenge is more mental or more physical. Bruce explains how he has been preparing for both aspects. While Steve had limited preparation for his hike, the two of them talk about how proper preparation can enhance the experience. They both get a kick out of listener Barb Oelschlegal's question about how Bruce's wife will spend her time while he is away. Ultimately, both agree that it is how one responds to the multiplicity  of challenges on the trail that will go a long way to determining the ultimate success or failure of a long-distance hike. With just 90 days to go, Bruce is also struggling to comtain his excitement about his adventure. The countdown has begun! To read more about Bruce, his hike and his fund-raising, go to his RTK website. Please also support our friends at Trailtopia. We thank them for their generous support for the show.    

I always hoped that I'd be able to speak with Bruce's family, friends, and colleagues on their reaction to and expectations of his upcoming thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. We started with Bruce's law partner of over 20 years, Gary LeClair. Gary proved to be a delight to chat with. He was open, friendly, and made me laugh out loud several times. While I never expected him to dish any dirt on Bruce–indeed, it seems that none exists–he was able to tell us a couple of stories that allowed us to further understand Bruce and his motivations for the hike. Most significantly, in my eyes, it was the whole-hearted support that Gary gave to his friend that warmed my heart. Bruce certainly won't be lacking in support when he sets out, and his former colleagues will be cheering him on every step of the way. Remember to visit Bruce's site about his hike, ReturningToKatahdin.com and subscribe to his newsletter. Also, while you're online, why not pop over to Trailtopia's website at the same time.  

Bruce and Steve discuss the possibility of boredom on the trail and how Bruce may cope with it should it arise. He has a "novel" solution to the problem. This question was from listener Eliza Newland, so thanks for that Eliza. She wins two of Trailtopia's scrumptious meals. Remember to keep sending in your questions as there'll be two meals given away each week. After dealing with boredom, Bruce and Steve are all about the gear, with Bruce's planning acumen to the fore. He has what he calls a "Working Gear List" that records his various options, constantly refining those options until he is sure he has what he wants. There are compromises to make, with the weight of something balanced against its utility value or even its status as a comfort item. With the focus constantly on getting to Katahdin, Bruce sees everything through that lens. If you're interested in learning more about Bruce's approach to the hike visit his website, ReturningToKatahdin.com, where you can sign up for his newsletter. While you're there, don't forget also to check out our sponsor's site, Trailtopia.com.       

Bruce and Steve discuss the impact upon the trail that some of the super-fast hikers may have engendered. Bruce is a bit of a self-confessed Appalachian Trail nerd, with interest in the various hikers who have lowered the FKT records over the years. He, of course, is hoping to set a record of his own. While the preparation for such a hike is extensive, Bruce has managed to put together a plan to raise $250,000 for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. He recognizes that this may put further pressure on him but is determined to enjoy his hike first and foremost. Steve has his own theory as to why Bruce sometimes seems a little reserved on the show. A recent encounter on the golf course informed his view and he shares it here. With Christmas Day soon to be upon us, next week we'll have Bruce's wiife, Cheryl, and daughters, Brooke and Amy, to share their thoughts on his upcoming adventure. Remember to visting our sponsors, Trailtopia, online as well as Bruce's site, Returning To Katahdin for more information.  

This week, in our Christmas Day show, what could be more appropriate than hearing from Bruce's family and what they think about Bruce's upcoming thru-hike. I quickly learned that they share Bruce's confidence in his meticulous preparation. However, once our interview was over, one of his daughters shared a few things that I wasn't expecting. It turns out that, despite his many accomplishments, Bruce is just one of four highly accomplished family members. His wife and daughters had their own individual takes, but each was supportive and confident in Bruce's readiness. If you'd like to learn more about the hike and read Bruce's blog, head over to ReturningToKatahdin.com. Don't forget to also visit our sponsor's site at Trailtopia.com.

This week, we talk about the various fears–or maybe just concerns–that afflict hikers when they prepare to head out into the woods for six months. Bruce is so well prepared and has considered many of the things that may happen while he is away. Yet he still finds a few things that will make him keep a watchful eye, particularly in the first few weeks. Nobody takes on an adventure like this without a few niggling thoughts at the back of your mind. For those who worry about animals; the tick is probably the worst one to come into contact with. Bears and snakes want no part of you, really, while moose will leave you with your mouth wide open in utter awe should you be lucky enough to run into one. My hiking buddies and I saw this little beauty in New Hampshire. Click here. For some reason, the stand-alone video of the moose seems to have disappeared from my YouTube account, so I've linked you to the spot where he appears in a longer film of my journey. Rick Watts and Kristen Gardena got to ask their questions this week. I still need your address Rick. We've got a bit of an experiment next week, with my own version of Desert Island Discs. Don't worry, it will all become clear on the show. Please subscribe to us on iTunes and to Bruce's blog at ReturningToKatahdin.com and, while you're online, drop into Trailtopia's website to learn a bit more about some of their tasty offerings.  

The premise for this week's show mirrors a popular show in the UK for the past 75 years. Bruce has chosen just eight "discs" to take with him on his journey. Limiting himself to just eight was a real challenge. So much so that he came up with a list of 24. This man is REALLY thorough!! We also had a question from Judy Mikesell. Make sure that you send my your address, Judy, so that Trailtopia can send you a couple of their delicious meals. Don't forget to keep sending in questions for Bruce and make sure that you check out Trailtopia's site so that you can even make your choice. If you'd like to learn more about Bruce and his hike, visit ReturningToKatahdin.com. 

We're on to Bruce's choice of gear, with the Big Three uppermost in his mind. These are the tent, the backpack, and the sleeping bag. As always with Bruce, he has put a lot of thought into these choices. His rationale for his choice of tent came from a remark of an REI employee. Always worth listening to the experts! Bruce chose his tent of a couple of years, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2. There is now an updated model.     His backpack, the Osprey Atmos AG 65L, consistently rates very highly and Bruce makes the point that what it lacks in lightness is more than offset in the efficiency of the weight distribution. This is a timely reminder that simply saving weight is NOT the ultimate answer.       For his sleeping bag, Bruce opted for the Mountain Hardware Phantom 15. I love how cosy this bag looks. He'll certainly be needing it in those early months. This should be very comfortable down to 15 degrees, but will be further improved by a liner.     Last, but definitely not least, Bruce has opted for the Klymit Static V for his air pad. I laid on this exact pad at Trail Days last year. It is extremely comfortable and sells at a killer price–a winning combination. So, they are Bruce's larger item choices. We'd love to know what you think of them. Next week, we'll be talking about the extra gear he'll have for those early, very cold months. Don't forget to follow Bruce at ReturningToKatahdin.com and our sponsors at Trailtopia.com.  

Bruce's planning has included the very real possibility, indeed certainty, that he will face some extreme weather by heading out so early. To that end, he has built a Winter Supplement that brings in certain items that will later be changed when the warmer weather arrives. You can see his Winter Supplement at this Geargram link https://www.geargrams.com/list?id=38901 We discuss the various items and I weigh in on the subject with a number of my experiences in the cold in 2014. Elizabeth McDonough provided Bruce with trhis week's question so, Elizabeth, send me your address to steve@mightyblueontheat.com. Don't forget, if you want to support Bruce's hike with a donation to the ATC, his website, ReturningToKatahdin.com, has all the details you need. Once you get there, click on Support and you'll be there. Otherwise, you can simply click here to be taken directly to the support page, then click on the large ATC sign to donate. Next week, we'll be talking food and resupply. Talking of food, don't forget to look at Trailtopia's site for their delicious array of adventure food. 

With everything coming together, Steve and Bruce turn their attention to the supply, resupply, and the delivery systems that Bruce will take with him with regard to food. He will be receiving packages from home at intervals and decide once he gets to his home state of Virginia whether or not he wants to continue the practice. There are plenty of places to come off the trai, so resupply in towns is a very viable option. Bruce has brought his attention to detail to his selection of items for cooking and filtering his water. His choice of stove is the MSR Reactor, shown below. The almost ubiquitous filtration system is the Sawyer Squeeze. I had one for my hike and, paired with a "Smart" water bottle, it is the most efficient way of quickly getting clean water from a stream (or a pond) into your water bottle. Several people have remarked that the Mini Squeeze isn't as efficient (read: fast), so the original Squeeze seems to be the way to go. Bruce sets out in only 25 days and his blog is getting more attention as the date draws near. Visit his new site rtkchallenge.com to sign up and look around. As always, we're grateful to our sponsor, Trailtopia. We wouldn't be able to consistenly produce these shows without their generous support.

With less than three weeks to go, Bruce is down to the last few items he wants to complete his pack. These are the things that he has to balance between carrying the extra weight for the additional boost to his hike that they will provide. He is also narrowing down any "luxury" items. With all this talk about hiking and gear, we thought we'd add a few pics of Bruce in the woods (and on a few mountains) and some of the gear he is taking. As you can see below, he's looking very relaxed sitting next to his tent. Bruce’s blog is now regularly updated. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.  

We have a special guest today. With Bruce continuing the countdown to his departure in less than two weeks, Suzanne Dixon, the new President and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, spoke with Steve about the work that she and her great team at ATC are doing. Every hiker who has ever stepped on the AT should be grateful for the sterling work done by the ATC over their nearly-100-year history. Suzanne shares the ongoing work that she and her team are undertaking to make the trail more accessible to a wider diversity of age and ethnicity. She is especially enthusiastic about the non-partisan collaboration with the Federal Government and the potential for the economic revival of many of the towns along the trail. Bruce will be back with us next week, in our last conversation before he sets off. Make sure that you follow his blog at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.  

With just seven days to go, Bruce and Steve have a longer-than-normal chat about his going-away party, his final thoughts and wishes for his journey, as well as some of the ramifications that his hike may have on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While I had found him to be stressed and distracted on his home territory when I visited him in Virginia last Friday, he was completely different when we spoke yesterday (Sunday). He seemed to be thoroughly in the zone and counting his blessings, not least of which were his friends and family who attended last Friday's send-off. As you can see below, he has what he calls a kilt but, to anybody with even passable eyesight, it is clearly a skirt. Nice!! Bruce knows that the hike is to fulfill a long-cherished ambition, but he also wants to leave a legacy that will go beyond that personal ambition. If you want to support his efforts on behalf of ATC, you can visit his RTKChallenge.com page or simply go to this link on the ATC site and you'll be in the right place to make your donation. Next week, we'll have our first chat with Bruce on the trail, hopefully at the top of Springer Mountain, with his lovely wife, Cheryl.  

It has been a long time coming but Bruce is finally on his way. I spoke with him, along with his wife Cheryl on Saturday, 24 February as they prepared to hit the Approach Trail at Amicolola Falls State Park. All the preparation had lead to this and Bruce was ready to go. How lovely it must have been for him when two listeners of the show, Robert and Margaret Thomas showed up to wish them Happy Trails. What a kind gesture that was.   After taking in the atmosphere at the bottom of the mountain and registering as the 292nd hiker of the 2018 season, Bruce and Cheryl set off. Several hours later, carrying day packs and fresher than I expected, they got to the top and had the obligatory picture by the famous green plaque. I often look at my version of this and I always smile. So he's away! Late on Sunday, I also had a brief chat with Cheryl as she returned home. She'd become a little emotional as he left and even recorded the scene. Click the link below to see his first steps with his full pack. https://youtu.be/eNO4NBhf1s8

I was able to catch up twice with Bruce this week. He's made solid progress and is, not surprisingly for this "man with a plan," precisely where he’d planned to be at this stage. He had anticipated that his second night on the trail would establish his mindset that he was really in the woods for an extended period of time. For that evening, he found himself stealth camping, with a gorgeous view, along with several other hikers. The journey was really on and this was his view that evening.   There then followed a period of rather worrying (for me) radio silence. I needn't have worried and Bruce eventually reached out. Our second conversation (which was interrupted when Bruce had to find a better, less windy spot) showed him to be happy with his progress and his hike. These are early days and there is still plenty of tough climbing to follow, so we'll be checking his progress in the coming weeks as he settles into the rhythm of his hike. Don't forget to check in on Bruce’s blog, which is going to be regularly updated. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.

My first conversation with Bruce on this week was when he was halfway up Albert Mountain, at the 100-mile point. He had already experienced a tough climb out of Bly Gap and felt that it had been tougher. What he didn't know at the time was that it is the second part of the Albert Mountain Climb that really tests you. He sounded really well and a few pictures from his Facebook page endorsed that view. He was happy with the way his gear was working and all his choices were performing as expected. One thing that Bruce mentioned was the tiredness that sometimes engulfs you fter a hard day's hike. I know that feeling well and just seeing his tent made me yawn. The second time that we spoke he had his daughter, Brooke with him. She had just turned up and his joy at having a hiking buddy was palpable. He'd had a very, very long-time-ago deja vu at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and had negotiated the climb out of NOC really well. As you'd imagine with Bruce, everything was going to plan. You can read more about Bruce and his hike on his blog. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.      

By Friday of this week I hadn't heard from Bruce and, knowing that there was some fiercely cold weather in the region, I was starting to get a little concerned for him. I needn't have worried. He's about as prepared as a man could be for this journey and eventually got through to me at lunchtime on Friday. In the meantime, I had spoken with his lovely daughter, Brooke. She has spent the previous weekend with her father on his journey and they had had a blast. You can see from the photos that Bruce sent me that he's certainly needed his microspikes, with the snow turning to ice and giving him tricky conditions underfoot. The really great thing is that he is having a blast, learning as he progresses, and his gear is working out for him. Make sure you catch up with Bruce's blog at rtkchallenge.com and check out the great trail food options from our sponsor, Trailtopia.