Iowa veteran battles through illness on Appalachian Trail journey
WHO 13 NEWS – Iowa veteran Joedy VanVelzen surpassed 800 miles, meaning he is one-third of the way done hiking the Appalachian Trail: an expedition that extends nearly 2,200 miles between Georgia and Maine and passes through 14 states.
Over the weekend, VanVelzen was at a veteran support stay in Glasgow, Virginia, recovering from Norovirus. He called it a 'minor setback' and is already back on the trail.
Earning his trail name 'Unicorn,' this mythical creature has covered a lot of ground even through a couple of health challenges, proving his physical strength and mental toughness.
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Last week, VanVelzen posted on his Facebook page that he had to make a stop at the VA Hospital in the Salem/Roanoke area of Virginia so doctors could check out a spider bite. After that was taken care of, he was back to hiking and taking lots of photos of the nature and beautiful scenery.
VanVelzen has less than 1,400 miles to go until the end of the trail in Maine. He hopes to get there by the last week of August.
If you'd like to follow along, follow his Facebook page: On the Appalachian Trail with Joedy
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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