The Platinum Blazing Podcast

Platinum-Blazing 2.0 - The Pause This week RTK discusses the progress of the podcast and the need to take a break – to pause the podcast for a few weeks so a new and improved and better organized podcast and continue in the future. MERRY CHRISTMAS RTK send his Christmas greetings, including this song by the Goo Goo Dolls as a message for these crazy times. https://youtu.be/mjYhpBc1U8g?si=B8yUqbKTo_xWrhU5 Donate to Mighty Blue: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/support/ Podcaster - Bruce "RTK" Matson The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: "Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury." A new, updated edition has just been released. It is available on Amazon, on the Platinum Blazing website, and by writing to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatinumBlazeInstitute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/platinum_blazing/ Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.

David Kibiloski, Stumble Inn & AT Kids Inspired by a 2018 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, David ("Texas") and his wife Danielle ("Stumbles") located a great property for a hostel in Front Royal, Virginia. Renovating the ground floor, Texas and Stumbles created a wonderful home-away-from-home for tired hikers, which has everything a hiker may want or need, which they call the "Stumble Inn." Not only did David and Danielle want to stay connected with the hiker community and give back by running a not-for-profit hostel, but they created a venture they named "AT Kids" to help introduce young people to the outdoors, nature, and hiking and to expose them to many life skills revealed by such interaction. The editors of Platinum Blazing the Appalachian Trail were so impressed by this effort, they committed all the profits from book sales to AT Kids. David and Danielle continue to seek adventures in the outdoors as they use the "off-season" to undertake hikes like their recent thru-hike of the Superior Trail and hiking adventures in a number of the national parks in the Rocky Mountains. Podcaster - Bruce "RTK" Matson The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: "Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury." A new, updated edition has just been released. It is available on Amazon, on the Platinum Blazing website, and by writing to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook: Platinum-Blazing    Instagram: Instagram (@platinum_blazing)  Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.

After completing a section hike of the AT in 2009, the allure of the Trail stayed with Rebecca James (trail name "Cantelope"). When the time was right for a geographic move, she kept her eyes on proximity to the AT and settled into Burke's Garden, Virginia - a slice of heaven much of the world passes by. When the right property became available, the dream of serving AT hikers became a reality - just 3/4 of a mile from an AT trailhead and operated by Rebecca with her son Brad or "Bags." While new by most standards, the Burke's Garden Hostel is quickly achieving notoriety for its warm welcome, uniquely peaceful setting, exceptional resupply store, and much more. RTK has a conversation with Cantelope about all of these aspects of hiking and the hostel - and what's next and why AT thru-hikers are lille to enjoy a platinum experience with a visit to Burke's Garden and with Cantelope and Bags. Podcast Host: Bruce "RTK" Matson The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: "Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury." A new, updated edition has just been released. It is available on Amazon, on the Platinum Blazing website, and by writing to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatinumBlazeInstitute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/platinum_blazing/ Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.

Bob Campbell This week we speak with Mainer Bob Campbell - an experienced local hiker having marched through the 100-Mile Wilderness ten times, summited Katahdin 70 times, and now dreaming of a time for a thru-hike of the entire AT. Bob gives listeners an overview of the Gulf Hagas hike in northern Maine just off the AT in the HMW. Hopefully this introduction to what Platinum Blazing the Appalachian Trail identifies as the best platinum blue-blaze hike along the AT will help hikers sset their sights on this wonderful experience. We conclude our interview with Bob by learming about his commitment to trail maintenance as a volunteer with the Maine Appalachian Club - making Bob one of our AT Unsung Heroes!. ‌About RTK and Platinum Blazing The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: "Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury." A new, updated edition has just been released. It is available on Amazon, on the Platinum Blazing website, and by writing to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook:  Platinum-Blazing Instagram:  Instagram (@platinum_blazing) Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.

Warren Doyle This is a continuation of RTK's interview with Warren Doyle - a true legend, sometimes more infamous, but if you listen fairly, we think you'll find much to be inspired by. (RTK's own thru-hike was inspired by Warren.) Warren went on to complete more circuits of the Appalachian Trail than any other person - 18 times he has gone end-to-end on a thru-hike or a section hike. The FKT, which Warren refers to as an "endurance" record. has been broken many times, but his record of 18 AT completions is likely to stand a very long time. Warren has stayed active in hiking and the AT community, which included helping to found the ALDHA and running the AT Institute which helps hikers prepare for a thru-hike. Sometimes controversial, you will still enjoy hearing about Warren's story - and judge for yourself. RTK will also have another fascinating AT History question. The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: "Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury." A new, updated edition has just been released. It is available on Amazon, on the Platinum Blazing website, and by writing to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook:  Platinum-Blazing Instagram:  Instagram (@platinum_blazing) Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself. ‌

Warren Doyle This week RTK interviews a legend - some might say a famous character, some might say infamous - Warren Doyle. RTK's own thru-hike was inspired by Warren and you'll hear a little about that. Warren had just set a new "FKT" for completing a supported thru-hike, when RTK attended a presentation of that accomplishment. Warren sent on to complete more circuits of the Appalachian Trail than any other person - 18 times he has gone end-to-end on a thru-hike or a section hike. The FKT, which Warren refers to as an "endurance" record. has been broken many times, but his record of 18 AT completions is likely to stand a very long time. Warren has stayed active in hiking and the AT community, which included helping to found the ALDHA and running the AT Institute which helps hikers prepare for a thru-hike. Sometimes controversial, you will still enjoy hearing about Warren's story - and judge for yourself. RTK will also have another fascinating AT History question. The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: "Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury." A new, updated edition has just been released. It is available on Amazon, on the Platinum Blazing website, and by writing to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatinumBlazeInstitute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/platinum_blazing/ Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.  

PAUL FULLER & CARATUNK HOUSE In 1990 Paul "One Braid" Fuller completed his first thru-hike - this one of the Appalachian Trail. After two thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail and another hike of the AT, Paul started Caratunk House, a hiker hostel in Caratunk, Maine - just a few steps north of the Kennebec River and just a few steps off the AT. After serving hikers for many years, Paul closed the hostel for a few years but was drawn back to his passion for helping hikers in 2016. After a number of additional years of running the hostel, Caratunk House closed during COVID and will not be reopened. In the original edition of Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail, Caratunk House was highlighted for its wonderful family-style breakfast and its incredible milkshakes; and Paul was identified as one of the "Best Platinum Hostel Hosts." The 2024 Edition of Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail established the Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. Paul and Caratunk House were inducted into this Hall of Fame for their service to the AT community.   THE PLATINUM BLAZING PODCAST Our Podcaster: The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: "Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury." A new, updated edition has just been released. It is available on Amazon, on the Platinum Blazing website, and by writing to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: http://www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatinumBlazeInstitute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/platinum_blazing/ Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.

Almost every thru-hiker has great expectations for Mt. Katahdin located in Baxter State Park in Maine. Many have the impression that Baxter is all about rules and regulations - even potentially limiting the number of thru-hikers permitted to summit. In this podcast, RTK tries to show how the thru-hike experience gave him a greater sense of appreciation and gratitude for people and circumstances in his life - and that such gratitude impacted his attitude about, and thus his enjoyment of Baxter State Park, Mt. Katahdin, and completing his thru-hike. As he discusses, without the generosity of men like Percival Baxter - and more recently Rosanne Quimby - we might not even have the fantastic wilderness spaces we enjoy. Baxter, of course, conceptualized and personally funded much of what we know today as Baxter State Park. And more recently, Quimby used her philanthropy to create the National Monument knowntoday as Katahdin Woods and Waters, just east of Baxter State Park. Percival Baxter https://baxterstatepark.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_P._Baxter Rosanne Quimby https://www.nps.gov/kaww/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxanne_Quimby Irving Hunt The answer to our AT History Quiz. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1514&context=mainehistory Our Podcaster: The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: "Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury." A new, updated edition has just been released. It is available on Amazon, on the Platinum Blazing website, and by writing to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: * Website: www.platinum-blazing.com * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatinumBlazeInstitute * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/platinum_blazing/ Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.

SOLA Hostel - Appalachian Christian Retreat Douglas Douma (trailname, Banzai) is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Wake Forest University, and Sangre de Cristo Seminary. He is an ordained minister in the Bible Presbyterian Church and pastor of Unionville Presbyterian Church in Unionville, New York. Doug is also author of "The Presbyterian Philosopher – The Authorized Biography of Gordon H. Clark." He completed a northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013 and 500 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. He enjoys reading theology, woodworking in his workshop, and occasionally traveling to remote places. He came up with the idea of Sola – Appalachian Christian Retreat while studying for the ministry in seminary. Doug was joined in marriage to his lovely wife Priscilla in October 2016. They now have two young children. Contact: [email protected] https://www.discoversola.com/   THE PLATINUM BLAZING PODCAST The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury. A new, updated edition has just been released. It is available on Amazon or on the Platinum Blazing website. Click on the image of the book below or write to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatinumBlazeInstitute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/platinum_blazing/ Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.

Josh, Cassie, and Harvey Sutton live in Lynchburg, VA. Known on Instagram as LiveSutton, they promote "Live life fully!" Josh, Cassie, and Harvey have done just that. After realizing that a healthy retirement wasn't guaranteed, they decided to restructure their life to one filled with extraordinary stories by taking mini-retirements throughout their life. After having their son Harvey in 2016, they began saving for their first mini-retirement in 2021, to thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail as a family. Harvey would be 4 years old when they began in January 2021 and finished at 5 years 4 months old. After thru-hiking the East Coast, they have gone on to backpack the John Muir Trail in California, traveled to the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal to trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp, and continue to plan more adventures as a family. ‌ Josh also looks forward to some individual challenges and invites followers to participate in such future adventures. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@livesutton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livesutton/  Email: [email protected] Our "Unsung Hero" is George "Beatnik" Lightfoot. After falling in love with hiking and the Appalachian Trail, George completed an AT section hike and then committed himself to helping AT hikers. When not teaching college, George spends many hours on the roads shuttling hikers to trailheads between Port Clinton, Pennsylvania and Kent, Connecticut. (He can be sweet-talked into Duncannon PA and Great Barrington MA.) George will also pick you up or drop you off at the Stewart, Westchester County, Newark, ABE, and (ugh) Philadelphia Airports. His vehicle fits four passengers. Dogs are welcome.... but only Good Dogs. Message from George: "I carry no special insurance—I'm just an old guy with a car. I'm not a "drop-everything" kinda shuttle—please contact me as far in advance as possible. I don't have rates—I'll quote you my round-trip mileage, and you'll pay me what you judge appropriate. My teaching schedule changes every semester, but I'll do my best to get you on the Trail. Walk Well. Be Well." ~ "Beatnik" The podcast host is Bruce ("RTK") Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as "Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream." Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury. A new, updated edition is soon to be released. It will be available on Amazon or on the Platinum Blazing website. For more information, write to the editors at [email protected]. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the "Tennessee Hostel Hop" and the "Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike" - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook: Platinum-Blazing Instagram: Instagram (@platinum_blazing) Please email Bruce at [email protected] with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.