Why Thru-Hiking Is Your Next Career Power Move (Advice from an Ex-Amazon Recruiter)

You’re dreaming of a thru-hike — but you’re scared it will hurt your career.

It’s easy to assume that stepping away from work for a few months means falling behind. We’ve been taught that career success is a straight line: job titles, promotions, no detours. So when someone takes a career break to hike through the mountains, it’s often seen as a professional risk. 

“I started experiencing burnout and couldn’t help but wonder what else was out there. The Pacific Crest Trail gave me space to breathe and reflect — something work just wasn’t giving me anymore.” — Rachel “Moony” Sable, Human Capital Manager at a Big 4 Firm & PCT’23 thru-hiker

But what if your thru-hike actually made you more hireable, not less?

I spent five years as a recruiter at Amazon, reviewing thousands of resumes and interviewing candidates. I know how hiring managers think — and I know what makes a candidate stand out.

And here’s what I want you to know: taking a career break to thru-hike doesn’t set you back. It sets you apart. 

Let me introduce you to someone: 

• They’re self-motivated — even when things are really hard.
• They make high-stakes decisions with limited information.
• And they stay calm under pressure — no matter how uncertain the path gets. 

Sounds like a high-performing executive, right?

But actually, I’m describing a thru-hiker. 

Because the skills you gain on trail go far beyond navigation and blister prevention.

Thru-hiking teaches you to lead yourself through uncertainty, solve complex problems, manage limited resources, and keep going when everything feels hard. Those are the very skills employers are looking for.

And yet, for all the growth a thru-hike offers, it’s still a move many people feel they have to justify — especially when it comes to their career.

Thru-Hiking Isn’t a Setback. It’s a Career Power Move. 

In this article, I’ll show you exactly how to make your thru-hike a career power move — and how to confidently frame it as the advantage it truly is.

You’ll learn how to:

• Reframe your hike as a growth opportunity
• Highlight invaluable skills you built on trail
• Add it to your resume (yes, really!)
• Talk about it in interviews with confidence

(Also, consider this article my gift — one more reason to pack your bag and head for the mountains. You’re welcome.)

Is Taking a Career Break To Go Thru-Hiking Bad for Your Resume?

Let’s talk about the thing that makes so many would-be thru-hikers hesitate: the resume gap.

Even though 64% of professionals have taken a career break and 84% say it was beneficial, there’s still that lingering fear: Will this look like a red flag?

Will I have to justify why I stepped away? Will they think I’m not serious, not stable, not ambitious? 

I felt that too. The fear that leaving my job to hike for six months would derail my career — or worse, make me unhireable.

So we wait. We tell ourselves we’ll do it someday — when we’ve “earned it,” when we retire, when it feels more acceptable.

It’s no wonder so many of us hold back. We stick to what’s safe. We keep climbing the ladder. Not because we don’t want the adventure, but because we’re scared of what it might cost.

But what if it’s not a setback at all?

What if it’s one of the most valuable decisions you’ll ever make — for your life and your career?

What if We Flipped the Script?

What if stepping away for six months to hike thousands of miles wasn’t a detour, but a masterclass in leadership, self-motivation, and adaptability?

That’s exactly what it was for me.

In 2023, I took a career break from my role as a recruiter at Amazon to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) with zero backpacking experience. After years of following the traditional path and checking every box I was supposed to — degree, promotions, home ownership — I found myself quietly wondering: Is this really it?

I’d done everything “right,” but I still felt stuck.

So, I walked 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada in search of clarity — and maybe a new direction.

That hike changed everything. It gave me the courage to step away from corporate life and build something new. I started traveling full-time and began working as a voice actor, yoga teacher, and adventure mindset coach. Now, I support others preparing for their own big hikes — and help them figure out what comes next.

The trail pushed me harder than any job ever had. It gave me resilience, clarity, and real leadership skills in return.

And I’m not the only one. 

Rachel “Moony”  Sable (PCT ’23) returned to her consulting job at a Big 4 firm after a six-month sabbatical to thru-hike — and within seven months, she was promoted to Human Capital Manager, bringing renewed energy and clarity to her role.

Madeleine “Pickle” Welsch (PCT ’22) left her job in animation to hike the trail, then pivoted into freelance art direction. Today, she runs her own creative practice with the flexibility and balance she’d been craving.

Taking time off didn’t derail our careers — it gave us fresh perspective, stronger decision-making skills, and a clearer sense of direction.

Why Employers Value What You’ve Learned on Trail

Sure, thru-hiking teaches you how to dial in your base weight, ration ramen bombs, and embrace wearing the same sun hoodie for six months straight. But let’s be honest: you probably also learned more about yourself in six months on trail than six years behind a desk (I know I did). 

What you gained out there isn’t just personal growth. It’s professional gold. These are the kinds of real-world skills that make you a stronger, more capable human — and a more competitive job candidate. 

Here are four traits you built on trail that hiring managers actively look for:

1. Resilience & Grit 

It’s day five of hiking on blistered feet. Your brain’s begging you to stop. You’re carrying four liters of water under a sweltering sun. There’s no shade, no breeze — just heat, exhaustion, and an overwhelming desire to quit.

But you keep going.

That’s grit. That’s resilience. 

Thru-hiking pushes you to stay focused when things are hard, uncomfortable, and unpredictable. It trains you to problem-solve, pivot, and keep showing up day after day.

And in the workplace? That’s gold.

Workplace Translation:

• Pushing through high-pressure and tight deadlines without burning out
• Staying focused and solution-oriented when things get hard
• Showing up with tenacity when goals feel out of reach 

2. Being a Self-Starter

You have an internal drive that most people only dream of. Let’s not forget: no one made you do this. You voluntarily chose to carry everything you needed on your back and hike every single day toward a goal that took months to reach. 

The very act of committing to a thru-hike proves that you can take initiative, set long-term goals, and follow through. You’re driven by your own internal compass. 

Hiring managers love candidates who show initiative, learn quickly, and figure things out without being micromanaged.

Workplace Translation:

• Proactively taking ownership of tasks and projects
• Learning quickly in new environments
• Working independently without constant supervision

3. Leadership & Team Player

“When you boil it down, managing a PCT journey is basic project management and relationship building … managing risks, timelines, adapting to ambiguity, staying agile and pivoting when needed.” — Rachel “Moony” Sable

Maybe you wouldn’t consider yourself “the leader” of your trail family, but I’m willing to bet you stepped up when it counted.

Whether you helped your trail family navigate wildfire detours, made a safety call on a dangerous snow crossing, or helped a new hiker set up their tent in the wind, you were building the kind of leadership that actually matters: calm decision-making, clear communication, and group dynamic awareness. 

That’s what leadership really looks like. 

And being a team player? That’s another underrated skill. On trail, you’re constantly meeting people from different backgrounds, personalities, and cultures. You’re constantly figuring out how to get along, problem-solve together, and support one another through tough terrain.

That kind of collaboration is invaluable in any workplace. 

Workplace Translation:

• Leading teams through ambiguity and change
• Building trust through action, not ego
• Collaborating across personalities and high-stress situations

4. Dealing with Ambiguity

Thru-hiking is basically a crash course in dealing with the unknown.

You learn how to make decisions with incomplete information, adjust your plans when things change, and keep moving forward without knowing exactly what’s ahead. 

And that’s exactly the kind of mindset today’s companies need — especially in fast-changing industries.

Workplace Translation:

• Adapting quickly in changing markets
• Working well without rigid structure
• Staying productive even when plans shift

Let That Sink In

Taking time off to thru-hike doesn’t make you less hireable — it makes you more valuable. You’ve gained rare, real-world experience that stands out.

That’s why I believe more thru-hikers should be aiming higher than their last job title. You’ve got more to offer now. It’s just a matter of learning how to own it and articulate it. 

“The trail was full of opportunities, for so many reasons. The jobs will always be there, but when you feel called to the trail, the universe may have a reason for that.” — Rachel “Moony” Sable

Stick around because in the following sections, I’ll show you how to put your thru-hike on your resume and talk about your experience in interviews. 

How To Add Your Thru-Hike to Your Resume

If there’s one thing you take away from this, let it be this: Your thru-hiking experience is worth leveraging.

It may feel weird at first, adding something to your resume that doesn’t look like a “traditional job.” Maybe you’ve told yourself, “It was just a personal thing,” or “I didn’t get paid, so does it count?” 

But just like you would for any other job or project, your thru-hike deserves a spot on your resume. This wasn’t just an adventure. It was a full-time commitment filled with logistical challenges, self-leadership, problem-solving, and personal growth. So I want you to treat it like the accomplishment it is. 

I recommend placing your thru-hike boldly under your Experience section. You can call it what it is: a career break. Here’s an example of how to format it.

Self-Directed Career Break: Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hike (April – September 2025)

A 2,650-mile solo hike from Mexico to Canada through desert, mountains, and alpine terrain. 

• Completed a 6-month, 2,650-mile thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, demonstrating long-term goal commitment, personal resilience, and logistical independence
• Developed real-time problem-solving skills while navigating dynamic trail conditions, weather disruptions, and safety challenges
• Collaborated with a diverse community in high-pressure environments, strengthening communication and group decision-making.

Your thru-hike absolutely belongs on your resume.You didn’t just wander in the woods for a few months. You committed to something huge, saw it through, and gained skills most people never have the chance to develop. And that’s worth celebrating. 

READ NEXT – 4 Ways Thru-Hiking Can Build Your Career

How to Talk About Your Thru-Hike in an Interview

You’ll likely be asked about your gap, and that’s the part that makes a lot of people nervous: what happens when they ask about it in an interview? 

Here’s how to answer with confidence:

• Start with the why (personal growth, challenge, clarity)
• Walk through your strategy (planning, gear, logistics)
• Emphasize your growth (what you learned and how it applies)

Interview Tip #1: Use “I” (Even When It Was a Group Win)

If you’re talking about a group effort (like making a tough call with your trail family), make sure you highlight your individual contribution. Use “we” when it makes sense, but lean into “I” to make your impact clear.

Here’s an example:

“We decided to reroute due to a wildfire closure, and I took the lead on researching the detour, checking water sources, and walking the team through the plan.”

Interview Tip #2: Share Numbers When You Can

Scaling your experience helps hiring managers better visualize your impact. Numbers help them understand scope, even when the context is outside a traditional job. 

Example:

“I planned and completed a 2,650-mile hike over 5.5 months, managing logistics for 30+ resupply points across 3 states.”

Interview Tip #3: Use the STAR Method

When you’re answering behavioral interview questions (think: “Tell me about a time you …”), structure your answers using the STAR Method: 

• Situation – What was going on?
• Task – What needed to be done?
• Action – What did you do?
• Result – What was the outcome?

This helps keep your answers focused, clear, and memorable. And yes, you can absolutely use trail situations here. Just frame them in a way that highlights the transferable skills. 

Here’s an example: 

S – Situation:

While thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I arrived in a remote trail town to discover that my resupply box hadn’t shown up. I had just completed a 120-mile section and was depending on that box for my next five days of food, new gear, and maps for an upcoming snow detour. There were no grocery stores nearby, no cell service, and limited infrastructure.

T – Task:

I needed to find a way to get back on trail with enough supplies to cover the next 100+ miles, including a seven-day food carry with no guaranteed resupply points and extreme elevation gain.

A – Action:

I quickly took stock of what I had left, noted calorie shortfalls, and collaborated with two other hikers to redistribute extra food between us. I located a local trail angel, arranged a ride to a town 40 miles away with a full grocery store, restocked everything I needed, and reorganized my future resupply strategy to include redundancy and extra padding. I also changed my label format so my boxes were easier to identify and less likely to get lost at rural post offices.

R – Result:

I was back on trail the next morning, completed the 7-day stretch without issue, and avoided a situation that could have impacted my health and safety. From then on, I had no further resupply issues, and I completed the 2,650-mile trail in just under six months — fully self-managed, with no outside support team.

Your thru-hike isn’t a red flag. It’s a story worth telling.

When you share your experience with intention, it shows you’re the kind of person who takes initiative, stays calm under pressure, and figures things out — even in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. Frame it right, and your hike becomes one of the most compelling parts of your career story.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Falling Behind. You’re Just Doing It Differently 

“Sometimes, you just have to take the plunge. An experience like a thru-hike can put the way you spend your time into perspective.” — Madeleine “Pickle” Welsch, Freelance Art Director & PCT’22 thru-hiker

It might feel like everyone else is getting promoted and buying houses while you’re out in the woods eating instant mashed potatoes and digging catholes. But you’re not falling behind. 

You’re learning things they’ll never teach in a boardroom: how to lead yourself, adapt quickly, and keep going when things get tough.

If you’re torn between staying in a career that no longer fulfills you or taking a break to thru-hike, remember: you don’t have to choose between ambition and adventure. You can have both.

Your thru-hike isn’t a pause. It’s proof that you’re willing to take ownership of your life and go after something that matters to you, even when it’s unconventional.

So here’s my parting advice:

• Stop comparing timelines
• Don’t be afraid to pivot careers
• Apply for the stretch job
• Own your career break — and leverage it 

And maybe this is exactly what you need: time to reevaluate your goals, build real-life experience, and return to work with more confidence, clarity, and direction, both personally and professionally.

You took a bold step that most people only dream about. That makes you stand out. 

You’re not falling behind by thru-hiking, even if you do have to take a career break to do it. You’re just taking a different path.

And in today’s job market? That might be your biggest advantage.

Take it from an ex-Amazon recruiter — this might just be the best career power move you ever make.

p.s. I’d love to hear from you. Have you taken a career break to thru-hike? How did it shape your career path? Or are you thinking about one and worried how it might affect your career? Drop your thoughts below! You never know who you’ll inspire by sharing your story!

Featured image: Photo via Chickpea. Graphic design by Zack Goldmann.