I traveled from Las Vegas, NV to Durango, Colorado last week to hike the southern 110 miles of the Colorado Trail with a younger guy (he is 50, I'm 68). We'd been planning this trip for many months and drove 12 hours straight to get to our trailhead.
On the second day, at 12, 500 ft. (about 4,000 m.) I finally realized I was holding my hiking buddy back due to not being properly conditioned so told him to go on to Durango with two other hikers. I went back 5 miles to a yurt, stayed there two days and did day hikes. Then I backpacked back down 3,000 ft. to my car and camped my way through southern Colorado's Rockies for three days of day hikes then drove home to Nevada.
My take-away from this experience was:
A: I was not properly conditioned
B: My pack was about 5 to 10 lbs too heavy (35 lbs. W/ 10 days food).
Anyway, now back home I'm increasing my workouts for an August hike in my nearby Spring Mountains just N.W. of 'Vegas at 9,000 to 11,000 ft. I'll see how that feels for a two day backpack with 25 lbs.
I guess we all, sooner or later must cede to old age. It's just that I'm not quite ready to do it yet, especially with so many neat places yet to visit in the American west (and such nice UL equipment like a Tarptent Moment, WM Megalite down bag etc.) . I'm retired and want to have fun. Maybe I'd better get a SPOT emergency locator to call for help if I get incapacitated when backpacking alone. At least they coud find my carcass.
This year I started collecting my old age pension (men qualify at age 65 here in the UK) and, sadly, realised I no longer have the stamina of my younger days. The most noticeable manifestations are that I have to work harder at keeping fit and that I am becoming slower on the uphill stretches. Most of my walking is day hikes based on campsites rather than backpacking and wild camping so my load is much lighter than yours.
As to carcasses, I would far sooner spend my last hours on the hill than mouldering away in a hospital bed so I'll keep on heading for the mountains and coasts for as long as my legs will carry me.
PS: At least altitude respiratory strain won't defeat me - here in the UK our highest ground is just over 4,400ft.
I'm not sure you should resign yourself that easily. Your account suggests that much of your (relative) problem may have simply been lack of altitude acclimatisation. My personal experience is that I cannot go much above about 3000 metres (10 000 feet) without 2 or 3 days acclimatisation at that altitude. I can do day hikes up to about 3500 metres, but I need to return to 3000 metres to sleep. After that I can go to about 4500 metres without problems. I have been to 6500 metres, but that needed about 10 days acclimatisation of gradually gaining height.
Everyone is different, but I suggest you experiment a little with acclimatisation.
As far as general fitness goes, I'm now 66 and still do regular backpacks and x-country skiing trips. 3 years ago I did the Mamores in a day (over 30 km and over 4000 m of height gain) with two guys 30-35 years my junior. We took it easily and steadily and used 17 hours, but I was going as strongly as them at the end.
Thanks for the words of encouragement. Guess I should have given myself 4 or 5 days to acclimatize. I did feel much better 3 days later, before I descended to my car at 7,000 ft.
I remember when I was 40 and did the Canadian Ski Marathon of 100 miles in two days. I was tired at the finish line in Ottawa but could have done another day if necessary. Then I was in great CV condition as an XC racer.
As a ski patroller near Las Vegas I regularly work in winter between 8,500 ft. and 9,300 ft. and am OK. From now on, before I attempt high altitude backpacking I'll devote a week just before the trip at 9,000 to 10,000 ft. in the Spring Mountains where I ski. In fact I can clearly see that I can't let myself get out of shape endurance-wise and cardiovascular-wise. Getting back into shape at my age takes too long and I now realize it's far better to stay in top shape, regardless of the daily hours it takes to maintain fitness. Time to get back on my bike. And time to quit letting "Honey-Do" projects around the house eat into workout time.
Oh yeah---just turned 60 and have to be constantly aware of my conditioning even though I walk between 9 and 10 miles/14km and 16km per day. The thing I've noticed most is the fact I have to pay special attention to muscle strength and endurance. Calisthenics and muscle specific weight lifting on a regular basis is a must just to maintain fitness for me anymore.
I'm nearly eighty and have just completed leading my forty-eighth Coast to Coast Walk and I had hoped to continue next year to make my fiftieth crossing. I had rotator cuff surgery on my shoulder in April and I had been leading ten-mile lowland walks with my arm immobilized in a sling a month after the surgery so I assumed that I was capable of leading more strenuous walks. But I found that I had lost my confidence when descending steep, rocky paths and had to call in a colleague to take over the section through the Lake District. After leaving the Lakes, I managed much better although I had a few problems on the steep descents in the North York Moors.
Unfortunately, to avoid embarrassing my fellow guides, I had to resign from the American company for which I had worked for twenty years. This was a real wrench because I so love showing overseas visitors the wonderful beauties of England.
My physiotherapist has given me some exercises to improve my balance and my confidence is fast returning. A couple of weeks ago, I walked from St Ives to Land's End with my nineteen year-old son, and though I was still a bit slow descending steep hills, I managed pretty well going uphill and on the level.
Hugh, you're an inspiration. You on the high side of seventy and me, just a youngster at 68. I feel a bit embarassed for wimpering about age.
I am doing weight training on my Bowflex at home and alternate workouts at a local city owned gym. Plus I'm a ski patroller in winter so that helps with balance maintenance.
My Filipina wife of 43 years is 72 but, like many Asian women, looks 20 years younger. She does an hour on her treadmill 4 days a week and we ballroom dance 2 or 3 times a week as well. As well she makes sure we eat a healthy diet. (Did I mention that she's smarter than me? She'll likely outlive me anyway. They usually do ya know.
Well, back to working on my attatched back patio pergola, a monster of 20' wide and 14' deep. That's exercise too, lifting 14' rafters. But I have my 81 year old buddy to help me - and he's a ski patroller too. Now THERE is a man who may wear out but will never rust out.
Good for you Hugh. You're impressive. I certainly wish you well in the recovery process and do hope to be as active as you in a few years. Keep it up. As said already, you are an inspiration.
Eric As has already been suggested, I think it likely that you did not take sufficient time to acclimatize. Four years ago, I climbed White Mountain (14252 feet) in the Sierra Nevada and Wheeler Peak (13161 feet), the highest mountain in New Mexico. I experienced no problems on either summit which must be due to the fact that I had spent sometime becoming acclimatized.
Actually, I suspect that I was a little light-headed on Wheeler Peak because I had a romantic adventure. Half an hour or so after reaching the summit, I was joined by three young people with whom I fell into conversation. They wanted to know what I was doing in that particular neck of the woods, so I told them that I was a geriatric Englishman who had nursed a lifelong ambition to be kissed by a beautiful woman on the highest peak in New Mexico. At which point the only woman in the trio got up and embraced me.
I keep myself fit by walking supplemented by some simple exercises to aid balance and suppleness in my joints.
Steve_D The company I worked for is Wlderness Travel of Berkeley, California http://www.wildernesstravel.com/ It's difficult to break into this kind of employment which is, in any case, seasonal and casual, so most guides need another source of income. I was lucky because I happened to be in the right place at the right time. Most guides are recruited by recommendations from other guides; my vacancy has already been filled.
I suspect that most British companies that recruit walks guides still pay poorly. I worked for Waymark Holidays for three seasons many years ago. I led walks in the Cevennes, the French Alps, and the GR20 in Corsica. I received no pay and was told that my 'reward' was a free holiday. All I can say is that if you do your job properly, you can enjoy the experience but it is very far from a holiday. Most of the leading American companies pay very well but expect a high level of professionalism from their guides.
I traveled from Las Vegas, NV to Durango, Colorado last week to hike the southern 110 miles of the Colorado Trail with a younger guy (he is 50, I'm 68). We'd been planning this trip for many months and drove 12 hours straight to get to our trailhead.
(
