Well I'm 73 now and still backpacking. Haven't been on the forum for quite awhile so was surprised to see this post from 13 years ago or so.

Biggest barrier to backpacking for me has been the fires in my favorite area, the Pasayten Wildereness. I don't mind a bit of soot but the trees unexpectedly fall for years after and are a real hazard.

Keep on trucken geezers!