Video: A Veteran Finds Peace and Solace on the Appalachian Trail

When Will Smith returned home to New Orleans after serving 5 years in the U.S. Army, with tours to Iraq, he found the transition a difficult one. Will was suffering from post-traumatic stress and soon found solace in alcohol and prescription medications. But he knew that he had to get his life together and find a way to deal with his demons, so he took up hiking. It helped him to get outside, commune with nature, and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life for awhile. This past summer he hiked the entire length of the 2100+ mile (3380 km) Appalachian Trail, where he found a bit of peace and solace at last. This video tells his story and it is an inspiring one.

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