The Weight I Carried: Hiking Through Grief and Healing on the Appalachian Trail

“A lifelong outdoorsman, coppersmith, builder, and father, Steven has spent his life shaping metal, wood, and stone. But nothing shaped him more than love and loss. After the death of his beloved wife, Sandy, he turned to the Appalachian Trail—a dream they once shared—as a way to reconcile his loss with his faith.

The 2,200-mile journey became more than a hike; it was a desperate reckoning. An abundance of hazards, from animals to broken bones and illness, delayed him. With grief and depre...