How old are you ?

[Chip]

Before Dave puts his <Mod Hat> on, this is about hiking. I've had some time to review my retirement plan recently and I'm hoping to do it while I'm still young enough to enjoy it. Which makes me wonder; how old are you ? Are you hiking more now than when you were younger or are you planning on hiking more after the mortgage is paid and the kids are out ? I backpacked alot in High School, but did almost none in my 20's and 30's. My 40's have been pretty good, but I still don't have the time I'd like.

The responders identities will not be able to be viewed if you're keeping it secret.

To keep it simple regarding any comments you'd like to add "Hiking" includes day hikes, backpacking, backcountry skiing, camping, ice/rock/snow climbing and mountain biking but does not include walking the dog, trips to the Y or biking your local loop for exercise. Kayaks and canoes are welcome also.

Thanks.

 

[Peakbagr]

Good thread. I see no problems with it.

 

[Papa Bear]

I retired early (58) and got hiking again after a long hiatus (although I have been a serious runner since my mid 40s). Now 7 years later, I never looked back (If I looked back I'd worry about all you youngsters catching up ).

Many friends said: "But you're too young to retire". My answer: "Better to be too young than too old!"

Have fun, enjoy yourself.

 

[Roxi]

I've hiked more with each passing decade, although I do tend to "take a break" and hike less in winter than the other three seasons. Currently in my 40s, I think of my grandmother who will be 98 this year, and hope that I am still hiking something when I'm her age, even if I move much more slowly by then. 50 years from now when someone speaks of an old silver-haired woman that they met on top of a mountain, I hope they'll be talking about me.

"What the hell is an old broad like her doing up here?"
"I think she must have climbed up here years ago and never got down!"

 

[Fisher Cat]

I went on a brief hiatus somewhere around 22-29. My parents took me hiking for the first time when I was 6 and after a Mt Willard training run later that summer we did Crawford Path all the way to Big W. After that we went a lot as a family and with friends and my teenage years were a blitz of hiking, first with those who could pick us up, then after having a car it was full bore. Age 30-34 was on and off, now most of my vacation time is spent on the trails, either hiking or trailwork. I hope to kick the can with (hiking)boots on and on the trail, whenever that happens. Hopefully with a hazel hoe or axe in hand-not self inflicted of course!

 

[Pamola]

I'm three different ages, depending on who you ask; me, my body, and my parents.

respectively the answers would be 20-40, 60, and 25.

 

[hikrgrl]

I grew up in Maine...and to me, camping was what I had to do in the backyard when my grandparents came to visit one week every summer and took over my bedroom (the tent I stayed in was 6 ft tall at the center). And, uh, that was it for my outdoors experience, for a long time.

Right after I graduated from college, I met a boy. This boy took me hiking, and I kinda liked it. And then, I decided that a bike ride around the Quabbin might make a nice loop (I thought I was going to die, after). And then, the boy introduced me to some of his friends who also liked to do outdoorsy things.

Things didn't work out with me and the boy, but since then (among many other things) I've hiked the 48 4Ks, done trail work in Idaho & Alaska, ridden my bicycle across the country, and whitewater kayaked on the Ottawa River...and my next project is to hike the AT next year.

I've decided that I will never have children - for myriad reasons, not the least of which is that I don't want to give up my lifestyle. Even though not having children isn't exactly "retiring" - it's a life decision which allows me to continue fueling my addiction.

BTW I just turned 29. And I have no intention of slowing down!

 

[NewHampshire]

Last I checked I was 28. Hopefully I don't stay 28 (possible only by cessation of a pulse ). I am trying to plan for a somewhat early(ish) retirement that sees me plodding the hills and mountains in my free time (knees and health willing). I am in about my 3rd year of "serious" hiking and don't plan on slowing down any time soon.

Brian

 

[David Metsky]

Good thread. I see no problems with it.

I agree completely. Mod had safely stowed away.

 

[Mongoose]

I think about age and the outdoors quite a bit. I'm 28 and I'm always amazed at the lack of other 20-somethings in the outdoors. Most are content to stay home and watch TV and can't understand anything I do. I thought 20-somethings being younger would be more active, but that doesn't seem to be the case... Many of the people I hike and bike with are 40+, there's even a guy in my regular mountain biking group that's almost 70. And to think, a friend of mine mentioned he was turning 30 soon which he thinks is old...

I wonder, is it just my generation, or has the outdoors always been dominated by older people?

 

[Paradox]

The results surprise me a bit. I figured I was getting to be into the fogy years for hikers because I used to do so much in my teens and early twenties. I too, did not hike much in my twenties and thirties. Now in my very late forties I see I am about average in both age and hiking life cycle.

The Dead Collector: Bring out yer dead.
[a man puts a body on the cart]
Large Man with Dead Body: Here's one.
The Dead Collector: That'll be ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: What?
Large Man with Dead Body: Nothing. There's your ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: 'Ere, he says he's not dead.
Large Man with Dead Body: Yes he is.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not.
The Dead Collector: He isn't.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm getting better.
Large Man with Dead Body: No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment.
The Dead Collector: Well, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I don't want to go on the cart.
Large Man with Dead Body: Oh, don't be such a baby.
The Dead Collector: I can't take him.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I feel fine.
Large Man with Dead Body: Oh, do me a favor.
The Dead Collector: I can't.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, can you hang around for a couple of minutes? He won't be long.
The Dead Collector: I promised I'd be at the Robinsons'. They've lost nine today.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, when's your next round?
The Dead Collector: Thursday.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I think I'll go for a walk.
Large Man with Dead Body: You're not fooling anyone, you know. Isn't there anything you could do?
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I feel happy. I feel happy.
[the Dead Collector glances up and down the street furtively, then silences the Body with his a whack of his club]
Large Man with Dead Body: Ah, thank you very much.
The Dead Collector: Not at all. See you on Thursday.
Large Man with Dead Body: Right.

 

[rocket21]

25 now...hiked and mountain biked a lot from elementary school until I could drive, then hiked infrequently until after college. Hiking a lot now and plan to do so until the honey-do list takes over.

 

[DrewKnight]

Hiking behavior governed by chilluns...

I'm 45... I hiked a lot in high school with generous mentor-teacher... Hiked a whole lot more in my early 20s with my next-older brother and a very game sister-in-law (enjoyed about half my 48 with those two companions... now hoping to do the remaining half before I'm 50!). Hiked a little with my girlfriend/fiancee/wife (all the same person. No, really...) in late my 20s and early 30s.

These days, my hiking behavior is governed principally by what my kids can reasonably do (or how long I can sneak away guilt-free with friends). We do some kind of hike just about every weekend, but they've tended to be shorter, less ambitious local hikes so far. I think next summer will be a good season with my 10-year old, who loves any above-treeline view.

 

[peakn]

Only 71 but some days I feel old. Hiked only informally in my teens. Grew up in NYC with non-active family so had little opportunity. Was exposed to the great outdoors as a teen through fishing and then hunting while in college in upstate NY. Spent some winter time hunting/camping in the ADK's. Took up skiing as an adult.

Retired at 56. Moved to New Hampshire at age 64 and at 65 after a bout with cancer (was VERY lucky) was introduced to hiking and reintroduced to skiing after a 15 year hiatus. I've almost finished the 48, having come within a mile of summiting each of the last 2- Owlshead and Whiteface- one due to a bad heel shredding and the other re my companions pulled muscle. I try to hike a 4K at least every other week in the summer with shorter hikes between; and ski at least 3X/wk and snowshoe in the winter.

Is it getting harder? Yeah! The knees, hammies, general atrophy of aging despite some time in the gym every week. Ibuprofen is my friend! I hope to keep going until they drag me away from the mountains.

 

[Chip]

Ibuprofen is my friend!

Vitamin I. Yes Sir.

This poll is actually shaping up to be more interesting than I thought it would be. I like the way the Bell Curve is leaning !

 

[SOFAS]

I'll be 55 this summer. Although my wife and I hiked some in our twenties, having three children with active after school lifes cut into the available time. About 5 years ago, I got hooked on the Firetower Challenge and started hiking more frequently. Arranging hikes for my son's Boy Scout troop was also a great way to get into the woods. When I retire in 3 or 4 years, I hope hiking will be a big part of how I spend my time.

 

[Tom Rankin]

48 here. Got into hiking about 10 years ago. A good transition from active sports, so I can still burn calories, just a little slower now.

 

[Skyclimber]

I just turned 45. I was too lazy as a kid to do anything physical besides homework and TV. I got into serious hiking when I was 27, starting on Mt. Marcy. I had enjoyed Biking, jogging for many years prior to this. Then I started snowshoeing the High Peaks at 29. Did a little rock climbing but didn't stay with it only a couple of years. I didn't like the feel of being 400' up in the air, multi pitching, top roping was more what I enjoyed. I also enjoyed downhill skiing for a little while. I've done a variety of outdoor sports.

For those of us who are afraid of getting to old to hike, most of my friends I've hiked with, are in their late 60's and their still doing it. Hiking keeps them young.

 

[rhihn]

I started hiking when I was 30, have continued ever since. I enjoy hiking and backpacking (all seasons) and do some canoeing. I'm slow, but as long as I can move, I have no plans to stop. I'm 61, and retirement is a few months away.

 

[Bobby]

I'm 45. I started at age 5, and have been hiking and camping since. It began as a family thing with us, but as my sisters (no brothers) got older, they got away from the outdoors, so it was usually me and my dad.

Now it's me and my children who hike. My wife has no interest, so I get some alone time with the kids. It's all good. A bad day in the mountains is still better than a good day at work.