Our Hiking Adventure with the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire

My husband and I are disabled US Air Force veterans. We signed up for the Wounded Warrior Project a little over a year ago. We both have benefited greatly from the experiences. We have focused mostly on self-improvement but this event was a little different. Wounded Warrior Project organized a couple hikes with the Appalachian Mountain Club guides in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. We showed up to the lodge on a Friday, hiked to Middle Sugarloaf on Saturday, and hiked to Arethusa Falls on Sunday. It was really nice to get outdoors, hike, socialize, and have fun at the AMC Highland Center with fellow WWP Alumni and their families.

We are very appreciative of everything both these organizations do for us. These kinds of events pull us out of isolation and create an opportunity for veterans to bond with one another. We have a shared understanding that we never have to explain. We always gain new friends and a better understanding of ourselves thanks to these events. It is my hope to inspire others to get involved with WWP so they too can have these rich experiences that build not only friendships but confidence in ourselves. We share resources, coping strategies, and things that we normally wouldn’t share with just anyone. We feel a sense of camaraderie because we now have a team to help work through the issues.