Proud Veteran Conquers Appalachian Trail
Henry Rorie learned "Mind over Matter" during his time in the Marine Corps and placed this mantra directly in the center of his incredible 2,191.1 mile journey to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., a proud Vietnam War veteran and police sergeant, Henry found a love for hiking after completing his active duty service to our country and community. In 2016 his voyage to conquer the Appalachian Trail began, but was met with some prohibitive health barriers that would slow his 15 mile per day pace. When a health concern took him off trail, it was met with determination and a focus from both Henry and his care team to, as he states, "Get me back on the trail".
Nearing the end of his epic journey, Henry was faced with a complicated surgery that would require another break from what he loved. With mind over matter, this didn’t slow his drive, "The number one goal for me was to get back on the trail. All of my doctors at MedStar Health made this their number one priority as well... I can’t say enough about how grateful I am for their care. They were just excellent!"
Under the care and expertise of his MedStar Health physician, Ravi Agarwal, DDS, and clinical team, after surgery and a brief hospital stay, he was able to reach the final precipice of the Appalachian Trail. He even touched the iconic end-trail marker as he summited Mount Katahdin! He stood at the end of a momentous personal journey, with his health and grateful spirit, an example of the fighting human spirit.