Wow. We are almost the same age. I have a month to go. Greatest thing about turning 65 - Medicare. Currently going naked with respect to health insurance. Like OM said, we are still spring chickens. No excuses not to go on big trips.

When I started climbing in the mid-60's we made a lot of our clothing. I made a sleeping bag from a Frostline kit Even the guys would sew gear. I never was a "backpacker" as such until my old age. We carried heavy packs, but most of it was very heavy climbing gear. We approached climbs whatever way got us there. Did not think much about trails vs off-trail. Did not look into guidebooks much - just went and tried. Failed a lot too! Another big thing - the 7.5-minute USGS maps were just being made. Did so much travel on the 15-minute maps - even one 30-minute map made in 1903! I really got lost on that one.