Walk the Walk

Georgia Southern University researchers have partnered with the Warrior Hike “Walk Off The War” Program, to study thru-hiking as an alternative method of therapy for combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The purpose of the research is to expand literature on the benefits of wilderness experience programs and wilderness therapy by determining if a thru-hike – walking an entire long-distance trail during one attempt – allows veterans to process their combat experiences and alleviate PTSD.

“Today’s veterans can literally be in a combat zone one day and within hours they’ll be at home with their families,” said Zachary Dietrich, researcher and Marine Corps veteran. “It isn’t like wars past when it took weeks to get back home and they had time to adjust.” (See Staff Sergeant and Georgia Southern student John Kitchens’ story.)

The program lasts six months and covers more than 2,000 miles through one of three National Scenic Trails – the Appalachian, Continental Divide or Pacific Crest. For example, combat veterans who thru-hike the Appalachian Trail begin at Springer Mountain in northern Georgia and finish their journey at Mount Katahdin in Maine, traversing about 2,185 miles along the way.

“We’ve found that the main things they benefit from during the hike are long periods of isolation, reflection and time inside of their own head,” said Dietrich, who is pursuing his Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree at Georgia Southern. “As researchers, we’re trying to see if there’s a way we can direct those thoughts a bit and maximize the benefits of the experience.”

A team of researchers hiked alongside the veterans for several days to gain a better understanding of the alternative therapy. “We hiked with them for more than 20 miles,” said Shauna Joye, Ph.D., Air Force veteran and Georgia Southern professor. “I think that hiking with them showed that psychologists aren’t just about the couch mentality. We just chatted with them and they ended up bringing up things they’ve experienced.”

To help determine if adding a therapeutic component can enhance the therapy, University researchers will continue to work with the Warrior Hike program by providing psychological education to veterans as they hike the trail.

“New ideas need to start being generated and that’s kind of what we’re hoping to do,” said Dietrich, who appreciates the University supporting his PTSD research. “I could not have done this research anywhere else… PTSD affects a lot of people at one point or another and it’s something we all need to be aware of.”

The results of the study will be used to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of wilderness experience programs and their value to combat veterans. The Warrior Hike Program was started in 2012 by three-time combat veteran, Sean Gobin, after he hiked the Appalachian Trail as a way to “walk off the war.”