? for the Seasoned BKPKR

“Anyone else running out of hiking partners as they age? I have notice a trend with me as I age. My backpacking partners are getting old, some just retired to the ease of home life with it's good food and warm ass to sleep with every day, giving up outdoor life all together. Some have gone to the dark side and gone to using Quads to haul themselves around with RV toy haulers. And some have even died with that sudden cardiac event stuff thats going around. What is a seasoned wilderness backpacker to do? Now I know where those weird "alone in wilderness old guy wanders" came from that I have seen over the years in the my wilderness travels.”

“i'm finding more as i get older! of course i'm still a bit shy of 40, so getting older is all relative.

lots of folks from all ages on this forum though.”

“I am 42. I would say that the average age of the hiker I meet on the trail is less than that, but, the median may be pretty close.”

“I enjoy hiking with people older than myself - they often have a better appreciation of the outdoors and are better conversationalists.

All old people - contact me if you want to go hiking ;)”

“I'm pushing 57 and most the people I hike with are in their 30's and 40's. Although my buddy John (55) did hike up Loomis Peak with me on memorial weekend...he usually goes 4 wheeling.

My buds have told me that if they ever see me in a big motor home, wearing one of those one piece jump suits, they will put me down.”

“Mtnsteve - ewwwwwww.. jumpsuit? Please NO!! I'll be the first in line to rip it off you.. ooops.. wait... uh..


Rob - Also, us "older folks" can outdrink you young kids! And young man! It's your turn to contact me! What are you doing for 4th of July? (you too steve..)”

“That has happened to me years ago. I used to have local friends to go hiking with on a regular basis, but because of illness, moving away for a better job, death, marriage and lack of interest they all drifted off the hiking scene. If it wasn't for Trail Talk, I'd be hiking solo all the time.”

“Im 52 -I work with qquite a few other people none that I know of that hike-so mostly its me and my dog sage-I dayhike several times a week-hope to bp again -did some in the 80s -adirondacks mostly- with guys that used to bp but not any more-I guess im one of those old guys in the woods- but I love getting out there early in the the morning such a great feeling--”

“Although I grew up in or near the woods, I didn't start hiking until I was 59. It is hard to find people my age, or any age, to hike with in the upper midwest. Since I enjoy my own company it's not really much of a problem. Actually, I sense that it is more of a problem for my friends who are golfers. They can't get me to golf and seem to have more difficulty golfing alone than I do hiking alone.”

“the same thing here -people i work with talk about getting together to golf-when i just get my boots on and enjoy the grea outdoors--t”

“Old farts! Hey it is all reletive. Some choose to slow down and die, others choose to stay strong and keep moving. Mountain air and hill climbing are known to promote longer, healthier lives.”

“My local buddy I hike with is turning 50 next week and we have a trip planned for this weekend. So of course he threw his back out and is laying around on a heating pad. I figure by the time all my hiking buddies burn out, wear out, or fade away I'll want to be by myself anyhow. LOL!”

“There is nothing wrong being an "alone in wilderness old guy wanders" hiker......just meeting one is wierd.”

“I pack more now then I did when I was younger. I decided to get my butt in gear (literally) before I get to old to carry the pack. By doing so, I feel that I'm in better shape now then I have been in years. I've found so many groups in the N. Ca. area ranging from early 20's to late 60's. We all get along fine. The best thing is, I can now keep up with even some of the youngsters. LOL
Hi Robertr. How are ya? Also noticed a few names here that I'll be meeting in July for the Sierra Rendezvous trip. Looking forward to hiking with yous. Can't wait.”

“Most of the people Thinkbubelz and I have met have been from TT :-)

My impression is that the younger people (20s-30s) are too into their cell phones and video games and looking trendy to actually leave their homes and go outside...

We started dayhiking and REALLY enjoying the outdoors in depth around our mid-30s--AFter going to the Grand Canyon, we got "bitten" by the hiking bug... :-)

Now, we're starting to do more and more outdoors things because we realize that it's great for our health and a nice retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city life... :-)”

“hey nimblefoot, when you get back home we'll section hike the ice age trail in WI. My deer camp is only about a 45 minute drive south of where you live.”

“I googled Deer Camp and found these!




”

“Volunteer your time with an outdoors group like the scouts and teach young kids your old tricks.

The people I hike with most used to be my Scouts.”

“I like the red shirted deer. A nice snifter of Cognac would look good in his paw..hoof..hand.. whatever.... I don't know how it is in the rest of the country but up here in N WI and N MI deer camps are old and well established. Lots of tradition and good times.
last edited: 6/08/05 9:27:34 AM”

“Squirrelbait - sounds like a plan...if I get home before winter.

HPM - I never said I had any skills worth passing on, just old that's all. I guess I could pass on the art of shooting deer out of season and NEVER getting caught. Someone's got to pass these things along...”

“there are old people (like you) to hang out with. And there are young people like Opie to laugh at. I'm sort or in the middle.

Whats so funny is that my co-workers and best friends wife think that I've lost my mind and that I'm some sort of "hard core" camper. But I'm not really. I just like being out in nature practically every weekend...Is that so wrong? come out and float a summer weekend and then pack all winter long...forget that silly golf game. Drink beer and JD in the woods, not pernod in some clubhouse.

don't be discouraged, just trade in your old friends for new ones...”

“I noticed a while ago that, round here, serious hikers/climbers/backpackers - in winter, particularly - are in their twenties and then in their late forties and fifties like me.

In between are kids, careers, mortgages and, God forbid, golf.”

“I am 57 y/o married never had kids. My wife is wonderfulabout letting me go backpacking, but she does not go. I have always had a hard time finding partners because other guys spouses are not so understanding and they have kids etc that take up their time. Si I go when I can and sometimes go solo. That's life.”

“I agree AJ. It's almost worthless to approach a married friend and ask him if he wants to go out to the Mountains for a week to hike and backpack. Or go even for a weekend. It is hard to find anyone for that matter who thinks walking with a 40 or 50 pound pack for miles on end isn't crazy. When people find out that my biggest vacation is to go out in the middle of nowhere for a week or more to just walk and carry a heavy pack the looks and comments are priceless. My best hiking buddy has it worse, he works in a huge office building and office pogues are almost hostile in their incredulousness. (If that's not a word I just made it one)”

“wow never knew you all were THAT old





old farts”

“Where in Illinois do you live?

I'm in Chicago (duh)and am in your age decade. Maybe we can put together a hike before you go where it's warmer and more humid than here?

Mark”

“I'm not in the old fart catagory, so what I'm going to say is only a THEORY and will need to be substiantiated by the "older men".

Old guys who backpack are less likely to need to take any "male enhancements" like viagra, enzyte, cialis...etc...the reasoning behind this theory is that if we got enough testosterone and man juice to lug that pack up and down the mountains, then we got enough mojo to get a wicked hard on at the edge of the cliff and could go all night with a hot hiker babe.

lil help here guys...yay or nay?”

“Join me for lunch in Chicag next week sometime and we can talk aboit it.

I live in Wilmette. I love to go toShawnee Nat'l Forest (hate the 6 hour drive), but its worth it to get out there.”

“but, its canoe season and AJ it looks like you'll be in Florida before BP'ing season restarts for me.”

“The July trip into the Sierra isn't called "wheezers and geezers" for nothing.”

“lol old farts.....


Seasoned backpacker:

1 fresh stinky backpacker
1 tablespoon herb blend (like Mrs. Dash garlic and herb)
1/2 cup of white cooking wine
4 servings of cooked wild rice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Take one backpacker fresh from the trail
debone and remove any excess gear. Set backpacker in a large cast iron dutch oven with white wine and seasoning. Put lid on and place in oven for 8 hours, 20 mins. or untill thouroughly cooked and tender. Test with a meat thermomiter. Sice while warm and serve over wild rice. A nice desert to go with this dish is lime green jellow.”