“The natural world is a wonderful way to heal,” Cindy says. In the years since, Cindy and Todd have partnered with VA hospitals and recreational therapists to take Veterans struggling with PTSD into nature with a focus on hiking and backpacking. It was then that she knew she wanted to work with veterans and help them have transformational experiences through nature. In 2013, a group of thru-hiking veterans stayed with Cindy and Todd, and they created such a bond that Cindy traveled to Maine to hike Mount Katahdin and finish the trail with them. Living near the Appalachian Trail in the log cabin where they raised their kids, the two found joy in creating trail magic for hikers. Thousands of trail miles, and two children later, Cindy and her husband Todd found themselves empty nesters. She ended up marrying one of those hikers and the two set out to create a life around long-distance backpacking, homesteading, and freedom in the outdoors. Cindy Ross, From Trail Angel to Trail MomĪfter hiking the Appalachian Trail in 1979, Cindy moved to a trail town in Pennsylvania where she started feeding and sheltering weary thru-hikers. And while she may be an unlikely vehicle for this healing-she doesn’t come from a military family herself-she’s managed to build a strong community of veterans as part of her non-profit River House PA and is releasing her book Walking Toward Peace: Veterans Healing on America’s Trails on April 15. As a triple-crowner, cyclist, and homesteader, Cindy has seen first hand the positive impact that a life lived outdoors can have on one’s health and happiness. This idea, that nature can strengthen and even heal our brains, is the center of Cindy Ross’ work to bring veterans struggling with PTSD outdoors. Michael Merzanich, a leading researcher in brain plasticity, this mental exercise strengthens our brains and has the opposite effect of staying indoors and staring at screens. Navigating uneven terrain, adjusting our body temperatures to the weather, and staying aware of changing surroundings puts our brains into a state of hyper-engagement. Aside from the oxygen, exercise, and beautiful views, there’s a mental workout that comes with hiking. Anyone who walks in the woods knows what a profound impact nature can have on mental health.
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