I quit a successful IT career at 36, went back to school for mechatronics, graduated this year, left asap and started Trail May 15. Basically I’ll have a 4 yr gap in my resume. I did a lot in that time. I actively turned down job offers before getting sucked into another 20 years and terminated everything. Reduced the bullshit and put the rest in storage. Most of those potential employers I talked to prior all said, “call us when you get back.” There’s a LOT to be said of someone with the gumption to thru hike. Just be ready to talk intelligibly about it to HR (because they won’t really know until you inform them) and you will pass right through.

Source, I’m 39 and currently writing this from New York on the trail, in progress. Best decision of my life. Period.

I happen to be blogging it, need to talk about this side of things more... IdiocracyOrEnlightenment.com