The Weight on My Shoulders: Jon Hikes the AT

The Pandemic has made 2020-21 a rough time for all.  Add in being laid off with COVID-related budget cuts and not easily finding other employment.  We've faced the possibility of moving, uprooting the entire family.  It's made me question whether medicine, academic medicine in particular, is my future path.  My father's death from pancreatic cancer brought additional grief as well as recognizing my own mortality.  So I've decided to control those things I can, and on March 15th I'm flying to Atlanta, hopping on the Appalachian Trail an hour north, and hiking back in this direction.  This channel will highlight that trip as best I can.  There will be videos about my gear, how I plan to carry enough food and water, as well as my encounters along the way.  It's been said that the heaviest weight anybody carries along the trail is the emotional baggage they bring.  I hope to discard some of this and come back ready to find our what the next 20 years holds.