This is a great thread!
I can hardly believe it but I am 65. Saw the "Welcome to Vermont" sign when I was out driving my new VW beetle in my late 20's, came across Fort Dummer State Park, found a trail, checked it out, talked it over with my first dog Benjamin, and we never looked back.
Years of solo hiking with my dogs in VT, NH, ANP, Baxter (X1) and the Smokies ( with a friend).
Completed an Outward Bound dog sled/ski course in 03 at the age of 61. By the time I finished training for it I could stay on the elleptical trainer, with a pack, for 3 hours. They don't get many people in my age group. Best and most difficult thing I have ever done in my entire life!
As for "regular" folks in the 20-100 age groups it has been my experience that the vast majority of those I had encountered along the way have no desire to leave their comfortable lifestyles and experience first hand the great outdoors. When I returned home from my OB course and was relating my experience to the women in my knitting group, they were in a state of shock and one of them said to me, all wide eyed, "why would you EVER do such a thing?" They love the booze cruises, NYC, shopping, health spas, plastic surgery,all the things I can't ever bear to think about.
Each year at the Banff Film Festival in Lenox I get to sit in the front row with my "elderly" friends, from upstate NY. They always show up and I can't tell you their ages but they are OLD! They ski (both kinds), snowshoe, bike, hike and I think they might still roller blade the rail trail. Each year I look forward to chatting with them as much as I do the films. They are out every day in the coldest weather with their dog. They are my FIX if you will, my inspiration to persevere. I just love them. They are the best!
I retired unexpectedly two years ago after wrecking my back, hips and knees in a turbo fall down an entire flight of hardwood stairs. I have never been the same since but I will never give up. I sought out my own PT (won't get into the useless med care I received), and have managed to re-injure myself several times but time heals. Now you know why I am so interested in SPOT and other PLB's. Please understand I would not ever attempt anything that I did not feel I could do successfully but I guess I have come to the full realization that bad things can happen. No more feelings of invincibiltiy here.
In my mind I still dream of hiking the Bonds, and doing a trip to the Arctic, taking another Outward Bound course, etc. but these are my long range plans. For the present, I love reading all your great trip reports. I go out each day "hiking", although some might refer to these outings as just "walks". I will winter camp at Goldbrook and maybe Barnes toward spring this year and hope to alpine ski a real novice slope on a nice fresh powder day. I snowshoe the flats right now or mini hills. Thanks to UnaDogger, I have a new road bike that I love.It was her enthusiasm for hers that was contagious. My mountain bike is still working well. The mileage is less than it used to be, the intensity and difficulty of my escapades has been greatly modified, but the joy I feel each and every time I'm out there is still as great as ever. I will never quit.
I never thought it would be like this but I am grateful for each day and committed to making the aging/ injured body be the best that it can be!
Perhaps some day I will wave to all of you from Bondcliff!
