Episode #58 - Jeffrey Gray (Loner)

From the Class of 2012, this week's guest is Jeffrey "Loner" Gray. Jeffrey gave himself the name Loner, yet he soon discovered the extraordinary friendships that we all find on the Appalachian Trail. He originally came to the trail through the simple act of walking to waterfalls. With more waterfalls to visit, the walks became longer and longer, leading him ultimately to his thru-hike in 2012. He was an early pioneer of YouTube videos to record his adventures, having had a channel previously devoted to skateboarding videos. You can follow him on YouTube and Facebook. His Youtube followers would often ask him questions about all aspects of the trail, and Jeffrey would reply with long detailed emails. Eventually, somebody suggested that he should write a book about his journey and the many hiking tips that he shared. He published the book earlier this year and it is full of tips and tricks, as well as recording his journey. The book is available on the Amazon Store as wells as from his book website, Painted Blazes. I'm also introducing Bruce Matson to our audience this week. Bruce and I are putting together a brand new podcast, Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream, which will be available from November 6. In this sneak preview, Bruce tells us about one of his motivations for his 2018 thru-hike attempt. Don't forget to watch out for this new and exciting show; you can find it wherever you find the Mighty Blue podcast. Doctor Lynne Savino reminds us of the importance of treating various wounds that one might suffer when hiking. Her common sense guidance differentiates between wounds of a certain type, so there should be something for every eventuality. I'm coming to the end of my own book in the podcast, so I've re-worked the video of New Hampshire and Maine, adding new music and changing how certain pictures appear. I added this to my Facebook page recently but wanted to share it here as well. Lastly, don't forget that you can get both my books as a $20 package, with only $5 for shipping, by clicking on this link. If you'd like me to sign them and leave you a message, please let me know when you order. Several listeners have bought the books as gifts for Christmas, for which I'm grateful (as I hope will be the recipients)!