Episode Details

Ellen Langford, or Adventurine, joins us today. Ellen is a professional artist who had dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail for several years before 2025 opened a window for her.

On the trail, she found logistics to be challenging, yet utterly "embraced the suck" as she knocked off 1700 miles before an unfortunate health condition curtailed her hike.

She took her art tools of the trade with her, sketching as she went along. You can catch up with Ellen and her art at her website, http://www.ellenlangford.com/ . You can also follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/p/DSaG6ObjgCu/

Also today, Nina Banducci introduced us to Polarsteps, an app that tracks and records our journeys, incorporating photos and text. Nina will be out on various trails next year to provide trail magic and show off the app to hikers. I intend to use it on my upcoming AT thru-hike next year. You can find out more at https://www.polarsteps.com/

Then, my accountability blog focuses more on gear, as more "stuff" has arrived. It's getting real!!

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 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 lik