Now, Alexander has put his tips in writing in a new book, “People 101: Getting an A in relationships.”
His main message is how to keep relationships in the five healthy stages of acceptance, affirmation, admiration, action and accountability.
Proceeds from the book will benefit the Challenge Point program, which is still in need of a permanent camp facility.
Alexander said he became interested in adventure-based counseling during a psychology internship.
“I started working with troubled kids in treatment centers, schools and prisons. Eventually, I had a few youth ministers ask me to do the same thing with their groups,” Alexander said.
Today, Challenge Point volunteers serve church youth groups, scout troops and various service organizations. They have led retreats and backpacking treks throughout the Southeast and as far north as Maryland.
“People 101: Getting an A in relationships” is available in the gift shop at Walker Baptist Medical Center.
Alexander is also working on the next installment of his “Through Hiker’s Eyes” series. The first two books, which were published in 2008 and 2009, detail his experiences on the Appalachian Trail, which stretches 2,175 miles from Georgia to Maine.
“The next books will be about a few of my European journeys,” said Alexander, who embarked on the Pacific Crest Trail along the West Coast last week.