WHO 13 NEWS – Iowa veteran Joedy VanVelzen is more than two-thirds done hiking the Appalachian Trail: an expedition that extends nearly 2,200 miles between Georgia and Maine and passes through 14 states.

VanVelzen surpassed the 1,500-mile mark with fellow veteran Greg, a part of Warrior Expeditions.

They made their way through Connecticut, moving at a good pace while dealing with extreme heat and humidity.

They made a stop at a veteran supporter’s ranch to take a break and hang out with some horses.

VanVelzen reports that last week in Massachusetts was hiker-friendly with the weather but still challenging because of the terrain.

He is thankful for the frequent “trail magic” that’s fueling him with hamburgers, hot dogs, Gatorade, and homemade cookies.

VanVelzen will cross the 1,600-mile mark and make it into Vermont later this week. That means less than 600 miles to go until the finish line in Maine.

If you’d like to follow along, follow his Facebook page: On the Appalachian Trail with Joedy.