A CAREER break for many people would mean flying around the world for six months, but not for Jon Press.

The RBC Wealth Management corporate trust manager is going to use his time to trek the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail stretching from Georgia to Maine, starting at the end of this month.

He said he had decided to do it after learning about the trail, which passes through 14 American states, after walking in New Hampshire nine years ago.

‘It stuck in my mind and after doing some research I decided it was something I wanted to attempt,’ he said.

The trail is mainly made up of mountains and dense forests and goes through states such as North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New Jersey and Vermont.

Mr Press, 30, will take five months to complete the trail in temperatures that could range from minus 5 to 30 degrees.

He said on average only 25% of people managed to complete the trail, which travel writer author Bill Bryson attempted in 1998.

‘It only takes one lapse in concentration in poor weather to slip on your ankle or worse. Some people retire through injury or they simply realise the enormity of the challenge.’

But he remained optimistic about the task that lay ahead of him. ‘Although I only have the cliffs in Guernsey to train on, I have a good base fitness which I hope will help me,’ he said.

The trail is 2,175 miles long and walking it is the equivalent of going from John O’Groats and Land’s End just under four times or walking around the coastline of Guernsey 54.5 times.

Mr Press leaves Guernsey on Thursday to start on Monday 30 March.