Skip to main content

Seeking inspiration? Here’s how a hiker’s boots made it from Georgia to Maine

In 2015, the Dirtbag Diaries, a hikers’ podcast, received and podcasted a letter from M’Lynn Evans, an Australian housewife. Evans related the tale of her husband, Paul. Paul loved the outdoors and dreamed of hiking the Appalachian trail, but died before he could turn his dream into reality. She asked the podcast to help her find a hiker who was willing to bring Paul’s boots on the trail along with them. She found not just a single hiker, but a whole community willing to help her see Paul’s boots make the journey.

According to M’Lynn, Paul was a big guy with a big heart and a love for the outdoors. He spent the last decade of his life caring for his mother, who was suffering with Parkinson’s disease, and his father, who developed Alzheimer’s disease. Paul’s time outdoors dwindled and before he could get back on the trail, he suffered several debilitating heart attacks.

Recommended Videos

Though his health was declining, his love for the Appalachian Trail remained strong. Even though he could no longer hike, he still prepared for his grand hike on the Appalachian Trail. He listened to the Dirtbag Diaries podcast, packed his bag, searched for the perfect stove, and even polished three pairs of his favorite boots for the hike. When he died just shy of his 54th birthday, the polished boots sat next to his full backpack, ready to hit the trail.

While grieving the loss of her husband, M’Lynn had the idea of finding someone to portage her husband’s boots for the entire 2,189 miles. It would be her final tribute and gift to the man she missed so dearly. More than a dozen hikers volunteered to carry Paul’s boots along with them on the trail.

REI Co-Op and Duct Tape Then Beer helped film the endeavor and have shared some of the stories of the boots as they made their way from Maine to Georgia. The highlight of the trip was the final ascent up Mount Katahdin in Maine, where Paul’s brother had flown in from Australia to carry them to the summit, and M’Lynn was there to see the boots off at the base of the trail’s final peak. It’s a heartwarming story that’s worth an hour of your time.

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Aventon Abound SR e-bike (Winner Selected)
aventon abound sr e bike giveaway january 2025 dt

If you've been trying to save up for an electric bike but life keeps getting in the way, why not try your luck in this giveaway for the Aventon Abound SR? It's made by one of the top makers of electric bikes, and here's your chance to get one as a prize!

Joining the giveaway is extremely easy, so there's really no reason not to enter if you've always wanted an e-bike. We wish you the best of luck in this giveaway!
Giveaway Has Ended
Enter here to win the Aventon Abound SR

Read more
Aventon goes all in on smart security and connectivity on Level 3 commuter e-bike
Aventon Level 3 right profile with Queen Mary in the background.

Aventon invited me to a pre-launch press briefing on its new Level.3 commuter e-bike in Long Beach, California. The Level.3 has several significant upgrades from the Level.2, including increased range and an adjustable suspension seat post, but the greatest upgrade is the Aventon Control Unit (ACU).

The ACU is a proprietary technology that incorporates 4G, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPS tracking. It enables a host of security, convenience, and personalization features. The Level 3 isn't the first Aventon model with the ACU; the Abound SR utility and cargo e-bike was the initial ACU-equipped e-bike.

Read more
Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Giveaway (Winner Selected)
anker solix everfrost 2 electric cooler giveaway february 2025 1024a241 40be 4543 9e71 cf91899c8f33

Would you believe that Anker, an electronics brand that's known for its power banks, also has an electric cooler? Known as the Anker Solix EverFrost, it's the perfect companion for backyard parties and outdoor adventures. It's so good that it's getting a sequel in the form of the Anker Solix EverFrost 2, and you've got a chance to win one!

Anker's giveaway for the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 runs from February 27 to March 27, which means you've got a month to send in your entries. You're going to want to do so as early as you can just to make sure that you don't forget. There will be only one lucky winner of the all-new electric cooler, so we wish you the best of luck!

Read more