Apr 13, 2017
When Jean Sobus decided that she was going to hike the
Appalachian Trail, she didn't let a little thing like plantar
fasciitis stand in her way. In much the same way, stage 3 breast
cancer wasn't going to deter her from the Pacific Crest Trail.
Jean's solution to obstacles and negativity is to go for a very
long walk. Her adventures included a 60-mile walk through the
night, fueled by espresso milkshake, and an encounter with what she
believed to be a mountain lion. She suffered spine fractures while
undergoing chemo to treat her cancer, yet chose to find her cures
on the trails of America, inspiring others with her fight. The
picture below was taken just after finishing the Appalachian Trail,
when she'd discovered her cancer diagnosis. One week later, she
lost all her hair. 
Undeterred, Jean took part
in bike rides to raise money for charity, and this speech is a great
example of her refusal to be defined, or even slowed, by her
cancer. She even shared a video of her dancing
in a gorgeous blond wig and removing it mid dance. Battling her
illness all the way, she completed the Pacific Crest Trail in 2015,
two thirds of the way to a Triple Crown. 
You can email Jean at
sobusjean@gmail.com, and
find her on Facebook. Jessa, or
Atticus, is now past the 150-mile mark and continues to show her
sunny disposition as she makes her way north. This week, she's
about to climb into the Smokies. Remember to follow her blog, which she updates
regularly. Clay Bonnyman Evans gives us his fears before
setting out, with rain right at the top of the list. As you can
read in Clay's blog, he
needn't have worried. Thanks to those of you who have
supported the show at Patreon. I truly appreciate it.