A photo of Andrew Goldsmith who intends to skateboard and kayak from Camp Merrill to Camp Rogers at Fort Benning from May 14-23. Photo provided by Andrew Goldsmith.

A photo of Andrew Goldsmith, who intends to skateboard and kayak from Camp Merrill to Camp Rogers at Fort Benning from May 14-23, 2025.

Credit: Photo provided by Andrew Goldsmith

An Army Veteran turned author is planning a 220-mile journey in an effort to promote his new book about his experiences in Ranger school.

Andrew Goldsmith joined the Army infantry in 2004, served two tours in Iraq and later graduated Ranger school in 2008, he said in a news release. Now he will embark on a journey of physical and mental vigor from Camp Merrill, in Dahlonega, to Camp Rogers at Fort Benning. He’ll take on the journey from May 14 through the 23rd.

Goldsmith characterized the experiences he had in Ranger school as “more impactful (and gave me more nightmares) than two years in Iraq as an infantryman.”

Goldsmith will make the journey via skateboard and kayak. 

“I like to travel long distances by skateboard because I feel like it is an enhanced, more fun version of walking,” Goldsmith said. “ ... On the right path, in the right conditions, one can literally roll for miles while truly enjoying the epic scenery around you, and one feels truly alive.”

Goldsmith also said he wanted to incorporate kayaking along the Etowah River, because he expects “it will be gorgeous” and it will give his feet a rest.

A photo of Andrew Goldsmith while he was in the U.S. Army. Goldsmith intends to skateboard and kayak from Camp Merrill to Camp Rogers at Fort Benning from May 14-23. Photo provided by Andrew Goldsmith.

A photo of Andrew Goldsmith while he was in the U.S. Army. Goldsmith intends to skateboard and kayak from Camp Merrill to Camp Rogers at Fort Benning from May 14-23.

Credit: Photo provided by Andrew Goldsmith.

He expects the journey will have its difficulties. 

“In my experience, waking up in the campground on Day 2 or 3 of an adventure like this is always the hardest part of the journey. By then, the excitement of Day 1 has worn off, and your muscles and feet are sore from pounding the pavement and sleeping on the hard ground,” Goldsmith said.

Goldsmith also said he’ll face challenges trying to avoid vehicle traffic. 

Goldsmith told the Ledger-Enquirer he hopes his journey will serve as an inspiration for others.

“I hope that people hearing about the story will be inspired by my trek to undertake things that seem difficult, impossible, or even silly to them,” he said. “I hope people will learn that it can be immensely valuable to step out of our comfort zone, to dare great things, to meet new people, to put our regular lives on pause, if only for a week or two, in order to have an adventure.”

Goldsmith said Ranger school was only three months of his life, but it has influenced every aspect of his life.

“It was only when I was beat down and broken by that experience, one that was arguably worse than two years in Iraq, that I learned who I was and what I was truly capable of,” Goldsmith said.

Goldsmith said the experiences he had in Ranger school are the inspiration behind the new book, which is titled “The Mediocre Infantryman’s Guide to Ranger School.”

“I felt compelled to share these lessons with the world, because ultimately it shows that we don’t have to be extraordinary to accomplish extraordinary things,” Goldsmith said.

After the journey, Goldsmith said he plans to visit the National Infantry Museum (his favorite museum), walk down memory lane at Fort Benning and probably eat his way through Columbus while resting his sore feet.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

Tags: Georgia  Fort Benning  Army Ranger