I'm 55. Work like a mule. Ride 10 to 15mi a day. Still play in a R&R band. Do not need viagra or pain meds. But my hair is gray. I got a few years left. I think Over the hill will be when I can't or don't feel like doing any of these things. What are your thoughts on being "over the hill".
I hike often with a guy that was 76 this summer and will be 77 when he finishes the Colorado Trail next summer.
His aerobic system is still very good. Recently he took one of the girls in his church youth group for a half century bike ride. He told me not to worry because she was a cross country star and could probably keep up. He said he only had to wait a couple of times for her.
However his vision and hearing are failing. A couple of years ago he did not hear a rattle snake buzzing him. His vision affects his balance and I am careful to keep him on good trails.
My desire is to go as long as I can, then have all my systems fail at the same time. Age is liberating. I am less competitive and judgemental. I still track my training times, but I do NOT share them with anyone.
Life is good. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
"In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not." Yogi Berra
Registered: 01/10/06
Posts: 679
Loc: Central Texas
Hard to know what over the hill is when you regularly see folks in their 60s and 70s doing 20 mile days most days on the AT and other long trails - and 20-somethings knocked out after 15 miles, groaning and limping around camp. Now, it is true that 20-somethings can roll up 30 to 35 mile now and then. But they tend to sleep it off the next day. Perhaps being over the hill means having the judgement to know one's mileage limits. But maybe judgement comes with the discipline to meet goals and the experience to know one's limits. But let's not assume that those limits are low.
I like that idea of now skiing downhill! Actually, over the hill to me means that I just have gone over one and right in front of me is another, just as challenging but one that was hidden from view by my first "hill". My first hill may have been "challenge" or "competition". The hill in front of me now may be "exploration"- just the fun of seeing what is over the next hill.
You win the prize! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> That is exactly how I feel. And that should be the attitude of everyone that cares about their health. If your too mushy and out of shape your life will spiral downhill. A friend of mine and myself were getting in a quick 15 mi. ride the other day and saw one of those middle aged men walking on the paved walking path. My friend made the comment about growing old and living the good life until the Doc tells you that you've had a heart attack or had to have bypass surgery. With skill, attitude and lifestyle (and a little bit of luck and good genes) it can be easy to outperform a younger out of shape person.
Crested. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> But I never saw a hill. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Registered: 03/08/07
Posts: 3
Loc: New Zealand/Australia
I am 62 and I've been loitering for a while on TLB. It's nice to find a group of boomers - like myself - growing older but still with plenty of dreams and schemes!
My thought for the day [ yes, I get one a day ] is that IF you can define what over the hill means, you probably aren't on this forum. You know, - the principle that if you can remember the 60s then you weren't there...
We should count our blessings; we have our health, more or less, but much more we have a love of the outdoors and coupled with the explosion in lightweight walking options, we can continue to enjoy the wilderness for many years to come. Hallelujah!
53 here, as of yesterday <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.no hill that I can tell, except I'm not as impulsive as I was when younger. Gonna try an "Ultimate Frisbee" league this winter at my daughters (a team captain) request. Still a hobby junkie/recycler. Playing music in two bands, hiking or paddling every day, watching my kids become adults and having the same goofy ideas I had when I was their age. Yeah, there's the aches and pains that come with age but it's nothing I can't deal with....you just don't heal as fast.
Just discovered this forum tonight. My hiking buddy (wife of 27years) and I spend a lot of time in the hills on the path less traveled. We find that over the hill just means that there is another great view from the top with more time to take in the view before hiking back to the rat race.
_________________________
Time in the hills is always worth more than money
We find that over the hill just means that there is another great view from the top with more time to take in the view before hiking back to the rat race.
Enjoy your young life while you can. When your bones start to talk to you someday you will have a different defination of what over the hill means.
Over the hill means having to spend time hanging out with all you old folks to make myself feel better. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
That would be the same for me..I am 56 years old today and I think that I would define "over the hill" will be when I just can't do these things any more, and with that being said, I really do not see an end to it all yet!!! May surprise me some day but for now I think that I will just keep on trucking....
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there !!!!!!!
_________________________
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!
I'm so glad I found this group. I'm 55 and was beginning to think that maybe I am over the hill. I used to backpack a lot, but as you can see by my user name, I have a few knee problems. I can still day hike, and I hunt and fish with no problems. Lately, I've noticed that backpacking gear has changed a lot in the 30 years I've been away from backpacking. So, I'm thinking of trying it again. Nothing major, just a quick overnight trip somewhere. I've found this group very encouraging!
Great to see that your not out for the count. Go lightweight and choose a trail that is not to demanding to test yourself. Just have some fun. BTW im also 55.
I was in an outfitter's camp a few years ago, in northern BC and the cook told me about the former owner of that concession, Wes Brown, who had just passed. He was 92 and had shot his last Elk there at 90, a tough guy with a lifetime spent in the BC wilderness.
I am 62 and I started hiking at age 10, in the wilderness surrounding my small hometown of Nelson, BC. I still backpack, hunt and all of the related stuff and fully intend to do so until at least age 90, it just requires sufficient desire.
It takes more effort/time to stay in shape now and I am much slower, but, the high mountains are not out of reach and I now have the time, finances and experience to go anywhere I want to. It's ALL about motivation and desire.
And that my friends is what should drive all of us. And that brings me to another little story. I've played drums all of my life because I had the strong desire to do so. I never had a lesson and practiced everyday from the time I was 10 till the age of 30. A neighbor of mine asked if I would teach his daughter to play. He agreed of a fee and we started lessons. After the first lesson, I assigned some simple rudaments to practice. The following week I asked my student if she had practiced the assignment she said no. I asked her to play what she knew which was nill. So I tried to instill that practice makes perfect and worked with her for an hour or so going over 2 or 3 simple pieces that she could practice the following week. Again the same thing happened. I had to explane to my friend that I couldn't teach something when there was no desire to learn. I guess she thought it would be instant gratification and be an overnight sensation. There is no such thing... I hope we can all hike into the 90's. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Registered: 05/26/08
Posts: 125
Loc: bc/yukon border area
to me over the hill will be the day i die . life is full of challenges and will continue to the end as we learn to die ,only then will i be over the hill
You say that now while you have your faculties. I saw an old man yesterday in a power chair using oxygen and had parkensens. He was trying to reach for something on a shelf and couldn't retreive it. He was over the hill.
Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:
Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!