Miles of Medicine: When War Leads to Trauma, Trails May Lead the Way Out

Charlie Wakenshaw · Washington Trails Magazine · Spring 2021

Featuring Howard Frumkin and Gregory Bratman
Nature and Health researchers and Steering Committee members

In 2008, Joshua Brandon was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the military base near Tacoma, between his second and third tours of duty in Iraq. He could see Mount Rainier every day and he started hatching plans to climb to the summit.

“Getting out here was my first real touch of being exposed to wilderness,” he said. “You’re surrounded by mountains. Rainier is staring at you every day and I’m like, it’s there, we gotta go climb it.”

Joshua commanded the 32nd Stryker Brigade at the time and got his platoon leaders involved with his plan. They formed a climbing team and got to work.