LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A small group of military veterans in the Las Vegas Valley has started a monthly ritual of joining together on hikes throughout the valley.
It’s a mission aimed at supporting mental health, with the next outing scheduled for the first Saturday in March at a trail in Boulder City.
The group, organized by Navy veteran Nathan French, meets on the first Saturday of each month and invites military veterans across the valley to participate. FOX5 reporter Evan Leake covered the most recent hike, held on Armagosa Trail at Hidden Falls Park in Henderson.
MORE: Las Vegas veterans find mental health support through monthly hikes
How the group started
French began walking several years ago after suffering a heart attack, initially to improve his physical health. He said he found his mental health improved more than his physical condition as a result.
Three years ago, French walked 22 miles on Veterans Suicide Awareness Day. A local group later asked him to organize weekly walks, and he agreed to a monthly schedule instead.
The group has only been active for a few months and currently has roughly 50 followers on its Facebook page. Approximately eight or nine veterans attended the most recent hike, which covered three and a half to four miles.
What happens on the trail
Leake, who filmed the story on his phone and hiked alongside the group, said the veterans connected quickly despite many not knowing each other beforehand.
“A couple of Army vets, who had never met each other ever in their lives, start talking about, ‘Oh, where were you deployed?’ They start speaking that same lingo, and all of a sudden you feel like you have a comrade that you didn’t know 30 minutes ago,” Leake said.
Leake said the conversation grew more fluid as the hike progressed. At the summit, with a view overlooking Henderson, participants took a moment of remembrance for those they had lost or to reflect on their own experiences.
“You kind of saw exhales. You saw the shoulders loosen. I think that shows something like this works,” Leake said.
Mental health and the veteran community
Leake said younger veterans in particular are still working through barriers to discussing mental health openly.
“I feel like it is the younger veterans, a lot of the time, who are still struggling to talk about it. I think that’s what it comes down to, a feeling like it’s okay to open up about these things,” Leake said.
He said the hikes are intended as a preventative measure for veterans who may be experiencing mental health struggles.
“This is meant to be a preventative effort. This is meant to help those people who may be having struggles with those issues,” Leake said.
The Veterans Social Club is also involved in organizing the hikes. The Las Vegas Valley has a large veteran population, and organizers said they hope the group continues to grow.
The next hike is scheduled for the first Saturday in March at a trail in Boulder City. Veterans interested in joining can find the group on Facebook.
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