Episode #518 - Emily Manzon (Tic Tac) - Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis

Emily Manzon, or Tic Tac, is our guest this week. Emily was looking for an epic way to celebrate her 40th birthday this year, so the Appalachian Trail certainly checked that box.

Along the way, Emily gained a respect for the trail and the impact it had upon her, using mantras to reflect her attitude along the way.

Missing 200 miles partway through, she could have been content as a 2,000-miler, yet returned to the trail for a more solitary experience as she filled in those miles, heading south.

Also this week, I welcomed Dan Durston from Durston Gear to help me with my tent choice for next year's hike. Dan answered all my questions, and I settled on this little beauty below. I'm so looking forward to using the X-Dome 2 next March.

In my accountability blog, I share a bit of bad news on the physical prep front, while explaining why I chose the X-Dome 2 as my tent for 2026.

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.