Hiking for Healing: A Veteran's Journey on the Appalachian Trail

At 72 years old, Marine combat veteran Rand R. Timmerman did something most people half his age will never attempt: he hiked the entire 2,100‑mile Appalachian Trail. But this wasn’t just an adventure — it was a mission. Rand set out to help his brother Ron, a 71‑year‑old Army veteran and commercial pilot, who was drowning in grief after losing his wife. Rand himself was in recovery from alcoholism. What began as a physical challenge became a spiritual passage — one that transformed both brothers in ways they never expected. In this deeply moving conversation, Rand shares the humor, danger, heartbreak, and healing that unfolded mile after mile. From critters and storms to moments of grace and unexpected human kindness, this is a story about resilience, brotherhood, and the power of nature to restore the soul. His book, A Spiritual Passage, captures their journey with 500 stunning photographs and raw, honest journal entries. Today, Rand brings that story to us — and it’s one you won’t forget. In this episode, we explore: Why two Vietnam veterans chose to hike the Appalachian Trail in their 70s How grief, addiction, and trauma shaped their journey The spiritual moments that changed everything The dangers, humor, and unexpected encounters along the trail What 2,100 miles taught Rand about healing, purpose, and brotherhood This is a story about pain, perseverance, and the extraordinary things that happen when you put one foot in front of the other — even when the mountain feels too steep. Find us on Apple, Spotify or your favorite listening platform; visit us on our YouTube channel Find everything "One More Thing" here: Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH Proud member of the Podmatch Network of Top Rated- Podcasts This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn -

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Hiking for Healing: A Veteran's Journey on the Appalachian Trail is an episode from One More Thing Before You Go by Michael R Herst.

This episode is 01:03:45 long.

This episode was published on Apr 8, 2026.

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