The 3,541-Mile Prescription
A personal reflection on a Guardian article about Jessica Guo, who hiked 3,541 miles not just for endurance, but to recover from depression and find herself.
I see a lot of stories about incredible endurance feats, but this profile of Jessica Guo in The Guardian hit differently. She became the first woman to continuously hike the Continental Divide Trail and the Great Divide Trail in a single season—a staggering 3,541 miles. But what resonated with me wasn't just the statistics; it was the story of why she did it.
After a previous thru-hike, she returned to her demanding corporate job and experienced a severe clinical depression. Her doctor's advice was simple: "get back on trail to remember who she was." This idea—that we can get so far from ourselves in our daily lives that we need a 3,500-mile walk to find our way back—is both terrifying and deeply hopeful. It’s a profound story about listening to what you need, even when it seems impossible.
The full piece is well worth your time. Here are a couple of passages that stuck with me.
I think a lot of women tend to underestimate what they can do, and feel like we have to be overly prepared. I later realized you don’t have to feel like you’re 100% ready to go after it. We’re not really conditioned to think that way as women.
If there’s something out there that calls to you, I hope you listen. Give yourself permission to do the thing.
Victoria Namkung
