Episode #30 - Jean Sobus (Sicilian Gypsy)
Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Steve Adams
4.8 • 599 Ratings
🗓️ 13 April 2017
⏱️ 75 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, the ultimate midlife crisis, joined Stephen his guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine. |
| 0:25.8 | Hello again. We're on two episodes number 30 and another inspiring story, this time from |
| 0:32.2 | Jean Sobus. This is somebody refused to take no for an answer as she looked to hype |
| 0:37.4 | the Appalachian trial. In fact, so much did Jean refuse to take no for an answer as she looked to hike the Appalachian trial. |
| 0:39.3 | In fact, so much did Jean refuse to take no for an answer. |
| 0:42.7 | She changed her doctor until she found one prepared to say yes. |
| 0:46.7 | Then, once she had accomplished her goal and was back home, a dreaded diagnosis |
| 0:51.3 | woken her a determination to go for another long-distance hike. |
| 0:55.5 | So she ignored that diagnosis and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. |
| 1:00.0 | Jean's story is a testimony to not only the power of the human spirit, but also to the almost |
| 1:05.2 | magical pull that the long-distance trails of America have on some of us. |
| 1:10.0 | Gene's interview will be on shortly. |
| 1:12.6 | Clay Boniman Evans is somebody who's been a great friend to me as I've grown the show. |
| 1:17.7 | He gave me the name of several of my guests and continues to help whenever he can. He is an |
| 1:22.1 | enormous trail enthusiast and you can hear in this week's Fear and loathing on the Appalachian Trail |
| 1:29.3 | section that he hasn't lost any of his almost boyish enthusiasm. |
| 1:34.3 | In fact, he says to me as if he's had a touch too much coffee in the interview |
| 1:39.3 | and I can imagine him waving his arms around as he makes his points. |
| 1:43.3 | Some of the audio seems to go in and out which I'm guessing is down to how animated Clay gets. Believe me, I had a lot of editing to do on this one. By the way, if you like reading about the Apple Action Trail, you really should check out Clay's blog at Clay Bonimann Evans.com. c-l-A-Y-B-O-N-Y-M-A-N-E-V-A-N-E-V-A-N-S dot com. |
| 2:05.7 | His latest post is about his experiences in the 100-mile wilderness. It's really good. |
| 2:10.6 | And he writes really well and always has an interesting take on hiking and hikers. |
| 2:16.4 | Jessa, oh, I really must start calling her by her trail name of Atticus. |
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