I'll be 64 in December. I've done the AT (in sections, not through-hiking), the Horseshoe trail in Pennsylvania, the Flint River in Georgia and the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas, among others. I've also walked across Viet Nam and done the Chipyong-ni march (but that's another story.)

A friend of mine went to the doctor. The doctor looked at his chart and said, "I can't believe you're 95! You're in fantastic shape."

And my friend said, "I'm a backpacker. All that up and down hill hiking keeps me in shape."

And the doctor said, "How old was your father when he died?"

"Who said my father's dead!?!?"

"Well, how old is he?"

"He's 122."

"And where is he?"

"Out on the trail -- he didn't have a doctor's appointment today, so he though he'd get in 20 miles."

"Wow! How old was your grandfather when he died?"

"Who said my grandfather's dead!?!?"

"Well, how old is he?"

"He's 141."

"And where is he? Out on the trail?"

"No. He had to come into town to get married today."

"Why would a 141-year old man want to get married?"

"Who said he wanted to get married?"