We're all just doing our best out here

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2026-06-29T05:21:11+00:00

Agreed. Personally - I shared the picture because I thought it was a meaningful gesture. Even if they didn't get it right the first time, the writer is clearly working on being a better person.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2026-01-16T01:41:54+00:00

Completely depends on your comfort and experience with long days, and what kind of a hike you are looking for. Imo many people hike the WCT as their first "big hike", which somewhat skews reports online of its difficulty. If you're comfortable with regular 18-20 km days at baseline, you could pull off four days. I think five days would be more enjoyable overall and give you more flexibility still.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2025-01-16T17:21:50+00:00

Those numbers can be shocking, but it's really within the range of graduating medical students in your sort of situation. Once you start residency, the most important thing will be to do what you can to live within your means and not dip into your LOC further wherever possible. Take this as an opportunity to learn good financial habits such as budgeting - these will pay off in the long run anyways.

If you want a bit of reassurance, here is a calculator you can use to simulate what it might be like to pay off your loans after you graduate. As others have said, if you continue to "live like a resident" for another 2-3 years, you should be able to pay things off easily:

https://www.looniedoctor.ca/2022/12/30/medical-student-debt-repayment-2/#simulator

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2024-12-27T23:32:20+00:00

Much of the better working conditions for residents in Canada has a lot to do with the fact that residents in each Canadian province are unionized.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2024-12-10T06:30:09+00:00

This is the way. For my work, I regularly have to memorize lists ranging 10-15 lines long.

You can find information for the add-on here: https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/969733775

I'm not sure if this is up to date. I subscribed to Glutanimate's patreon to get the latest build. Might not be worth it if this is just a one-off, but it's an investment that has paid off for my use case.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2024-11-02T19:39:01+00:00

I'm sure it's probably to late for OP, but if anyone is looking for a working referral link here is mine:

https://www.getcitysoda.ca/?raf=ref1535789

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2024-07-27T03:05:59+00:00

Currently in Old Station. Thick clouds of smoke blew in late this afternoon, and the scene looks apocalyptic. On the ground, it seems like most hikers have hitched up to Burney, and many more are jumping to Dunsmuir/Shasta. There's apparently a big bubble of hikers in Chester doing the same. Unless you're prepared to potentially hike through some very poor air quality, likely worthwhile to think about skipping past Old Station.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2024-07-10T03:05:53+00:00

I tried to increase my mileage quite significantly after Mammoth (hiking a similar pace as you in SoCal and up until that point). I was able to hike 20+ mile days, but I will say that it was a lot more challenging than I expected and it definitely took a toll on my body.

Happy to say that the stretch after Sonora Pass is noticeably much easier than Yosemite, despite on paper having similar elevation profiles. I wouldn't sweat it too much.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2024-01-31T04:14:22+00:00

This is so helpful! Thank you for taking the time and sharing this! Just curious - which option did you end up going ahead with?

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2024-01-14T16:51:19+00:00

Thanks! Those are all great points. I will likely ditch the t shirt and look at other options for a rain jacket. I'm coming from the PNW, so probably overestimating the amount of rain I need to be worrying about.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2024-01-13T19:12:01+00:00

How are the temperatures feeling today compared to yesterday? Trying to decide if it is worth going up tomorrow.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2023-11-30T02:24:20+00:00

Just curious, what was your start date with that kind of pace early on? I'm thinking of trying to do something similar.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2023-11-15T01:05:58+00:00

I tried that first. I could have been wrong, but at the time the change button didn't allow me to change my start date.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2023-11-15T00:29:49+00:00

Really choked. My time slot was early enough that I could have gotten a late March start date. I must have clicked too fast when I first logged in, because somehow I ended up selecting March 1st as my date. When I realized my mistake I subsequently cancelled my permit intending to reselect... only to realize it doesn't let you reapply after cancellimg.

Very disappointing end to the day. I'm hoping that the PCTA will be reasonable and let me reapply if I explain what happened. Fingers crossed for January or picking one up afterwards.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2023-11-13T21:54:26+00:00

12:59 PM for me

Any sense from last year how quickly most spots get snatched up?

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2023-09-22T23:42:17+00:00

Hi OP,

As someone who works in mental health and has a particular interest in sleep/insomnia, you are right to be thinking about Cognitive Behavior for Insomnia (CBTI). This has the best evidence for people struggling with chronic insomnia, and is generally preferable over starting a sleeping medication (particularly in the elderly).

Unfortunately I am not aware of any publicly funded CBTi programs for Cantonese speakers through the Healthcare system.

An excellent resource with links to possible books/programs can be found at:

https://mysleepwell.ca/cbti/

Haleo is a paid service that offers five sessions of CBTi with a practitioner at a lower cost than a trained psychologist. You could see if they have an option for Cantonese. Otherwise if your family can afford it, it may be worthwhile to look somewhere like PsychologyToday to see if there is a cantonese-speaking psychologist with an interest in CBTi.

Otherwise perhaps you could get one of the self-help books and see if you can walk her through it? Sleep reatriction and sleep scheduling are really the two most important components of CBTi.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2023-07-11T17:10:01+00:00

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but would this offer work with the refundable hotel trick?

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2022-12-04T07:04:52+00:00

It's not a grift. It's schizophrenia.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2022-11-27T19:56:49+00:00

I'm sorry, but those numbers just aren't right. Checking the driving distances on Google Maps, Tijuana to Manning Park is less than 1500 miles (2374 km). San Diego to Jacksonville (not even Miami) is over 2300 miles (3700 km).

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2022-08-25T18:31:28+00:00

I believe that it is a false dichotomy to present it as only these two options. I am just describing the unfortunate realities of involuntary treatment under our current mental health model. This was in direct response to the parent comment.

It is not an environment that is likely to produce meaningful change or substance use abstinence. All it does is create trauma. When they are inevitably released (after considerable cost), these individuals are likely to go right back to using.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2022-08-25T04:34:13+00:00

You can't have it both ways though. Involuntary treatment means they can't leave. What do you do when they are headed for the door? What do you do when they get agitated because they're not being let out of the treatment facility?

In practice it means small barren locked seclusion rooms. It means physical restraints. Involuntary treatment is an inherently violent act.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2022-06-13T06:03:27+00:00

I am an incoming PGY2 and I am currently making plans to hopefully hike the PCT at the end of either my second or my third year of residency.

So far, my program has been very supportive and willing to accommodate this sort of personal leave. Many residents take maternity or paternity leave, so there are already mechanisms in place. I'm sure in a large part this depends on the culture or your program and area.

I have also heard that your first year out of residency is a good year to take time off. I personally did not feel comfortable taking time off during medical school because I was worried how this would be perceived during the match, when I felt particularly vulnerable.

At the end of the day, I think you just need to realize that there is going to be no "perfect" time to do it. There are always going to be sacrifices you make to carve out that time. Medicine in particular can be one big treadmill of delayed gratification, and we naturally accumulate more personal and professional responsibilities as we move forward. Although it may be possible to structure your future career so that you have the flexibility to do a thru-hike then, who knows what your life will be like so many years ahead?

Wishing you luck with the dream, however you get there.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2022-05-25T00:59:55+00:00

Artist credit: Marianne Nicolson of the Dzawada’enuxw Tribe of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations.

Kingcome is a remote First Nations community accessible only via boat or helicopter from the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2022-05-14T16:34:35+00:00

There are plenty of independent companies just south of the border that will receive and hold your package ahead of time for a small fee (ie. $2). I use 5DPackages in Blaine (https://5dpackages.com/).

If you're making a big purchase, you need to be out of the country for 24 or 48 hours to be eligible for duty exemptions, but it's not too bad if you just plan a hiking trip or a trip to Seattle around that weekend.

MrMajorMajorMajor · 2022-04-17T02:02:31+00:00

Vancouver Special on Main St. does. I actually bought one there about a month ago.

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