**A Journey Through Nature: Brad Ryan and His Grandmother Explore America’s National Parks**
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In an introspective essay shared with PEOPLE, author Brad Ryan narrates his remarkable journey across all 63 U.S. National Parks, accompanied by his grandmother, Joy Ryan. Their adventure, captured in his forthcoming book, *Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time*, explores themes of healing and reconnection amid the stunning landscapes of the American wilderness.
Ryan reflects on their shared experiences, noting, “It was in nature where our relationship blossomed when I was a child. It was in nature where we found our way back to each other after years of estrangement.” Scheduled for release on June 16, the memoir details the unique bond they forged through their travels.
The premise of a 34-year-old man taking his 85-year-old grandmother camping may raise eyebrows. On a rain-soaked evening in September 2015, Ryan embarked on a seven-hour drive from Columbus to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. His grandmother had never slept in a tent or seen mountains before, and the odds of a catastrophic weekend seemed high. Yet, it was during this first outing that the seeds of a life-altering journey were sown.
The impetus for this adventure came five years prior when Grandma Joy shared her regret about never witnessing a mountain. This revelation struck a deep chord within Ryan, who had long been consumed by his academic career and the rigours of veterinary school. Feeling increasingly isolated and battling chronic depression, he realised a profound need for connection and healing as he navigated life.
At the time, Ryan, a dedicated and perfectionistic student at The Ohio State University, had become disconnected from nature and the relationships that mattered most to him. The tragic suicide of a fellow veterinary student compelled him to confront his own precarious mental state. He was drawn back to nature, reminiscent of a previous journey he had undertaken — a six-month hike along the Appalachian Trail, which had offered him refuge from societal pressures and personal turmoil.
As he hiked through the Appalachian Trail, Ryan reflected on his childhood memories with Grandma Joy, who had nurtured his love of nature. Her humble background in rural Ohio, filled with butterflies and wildflowers, had been marred by unspoken traumas. The bond they shared fractured as life events unfolded, but their early days spent catching crawdads and exploring local parks remained a source of comfort.
Their camping trip ultimately served as a gateway to repair their fractured relationship. After a rainy first night, they embarked on a hike that would not only reveal mountains to Grandma Joy but also new layers of understanding between them. What began as an unintended camping excursion transformed into an extraordinary legacy of reconciliation.
Throughout their journey to visit every national park, Ryan and Grandma Joy confronted uncomfortable family secrets and shared stories that had shaped their lives. The revealing of painful memories offered both of them a path to healing, allowing them to navigate the complexities of their family history, including the challenges Ryan faced as a gay man raised by a homophobic father.
“Tracing the through-lines of trauma across generations left me less angry, less judgmental, and more compassionate,” Ryan notes. He highlights the importance of bringing issues from the past into the light, asserting that many families carry deep-seated issues that persist through generations.
Nature provided a comforting backdrop for their conversations, enabling them to have difficult but necessary discussions. Ryan acknowledges that although their familial bond had been tested, it was nature that fostered an environment conducive to vulnerability and openness. Their shared experiences became an outward expression of their individual healing journeys.
Ryan reflects on the value of intergenerational relationships and the lessons learned during their travels. Their journey became a testament to the healing possibilities of dialogue and understanding over the backdrop of America’s breathtaking landscapes. “The national parks were never the destination. They were the setting — classrooms where we learned that healing isn’t a destination. It’s a lifelong journey,” he asserts.
As the publication date for *Grandma Joy and Me* approaches, the memoir is available for preorder and promises to offer readers a poignant narrative of love, loss, and the powerful connection formed through nature. The story resonates with anyone who has sought to bridge the gaps within their family ties and find solace in the great outdoors.
Ryan’s heartfelt reflection serves as a reminder that while the parks offered stunning vistas, it was the emotional landscape they traversed together that truly transformed their lives.