25-03-2025
Iowa veteran embarks on Appalachian Trail journey
WHO 13 NEWS – An Iowa veteran is on a six-month mission to hike what many have attempted but only the toughest have completed.
Joedy VanVelzen is hiking the Appalachian Trail: an expedition that extends nearly 2,200 miles between Georgia and Maine and passes through 14 states.
'It's been on the bucket list for years,' VanVelzen said. 'And for it to come together so quickly almost kind of caught me off guard because I wasn't expecting it.'
Last year, VanVelzen applied to be a part of a team of veterans to hike the Appalachian Trail through the non-profit Warrior Expeditions.
More stories: Veterans' Voices
Out of 400 vets who applied and interviewed for the 'Warrior Hike' program, he was one of 20 to make the cut.
'And basically, what they do is they're providing the why,' VanVelzen said. 'It's for veterans that have had at least one or multiple combat deployments, and it's a way to just rebalance yourself and kind of reconnect after being in the service for so long.'
Vanvelzen's 40 years of military service included multiple overseas deployments.
'When I first got in, I was a combat medic,' VanVelzen said. 'And then after a couple of years, I've had the opportunity to attend flight school and I flew Blackhawk helicopters for the majority of my career.'
Now, this retired veteran is on a new mission to hike more than 2,000 miles over the next six months.
'I feel great about it. I feel like I'm in probably some of the best shape I've been in my entire life,' VanVelzen said. 'And 62 years old and working out at least probably two to three hours a day, at least for the last couple of months since January. I'm physically ready to do this.'
His goal is to get up to two miles an hour for 10 hours a day, going four to five days at a time before taking a 'zero day.' That's when he will shower, rest, and resupply.
Last Iowa veteran to serve in Vietnam also served in Iraq
Warrior Expeditions is providing the clothing, shoes, and supplies he needs to make the long-distance expedition.
VanVelzen, with help from his family, is posting updates on his progress on his Facebook page: On the Appalachian Trail with Joedy.
'It is a great motivating factor to have that kind of support that I never knew was out there,' VanVelzen said.
Support for a trek that will test him physically and mentally. An outdoor exploration that will make him dig deep on the inside.
'They say this is a life-changing event and your life will be forever different once you complete the trail,' VanVelzen said. 'If you can do this, you can probably do about anything that you set your mind to.'
We will post updates on VanVelzen's progress every Tuesday morning on Today in Iowa during the Veterans Voices segment.
Iowa veteran embarks on Appalachian Trail journey
Iowan sues makers of Jeep Wrangler 4xe due to risk of battery fire or explosion
Tractors line Highway 14 to honor longtime Jasper County farmer
Iowa Barber Coalition urging lawmakers to approve bill to allow training on the job
Iowa Senate amends, approves Governor Reynolds' school cellphone restriction bill
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
