Cautious or braver

[spiderwebb]

Curious to know other folks views on whether u get more cautious or more ambitious as in challenging, mentally and physically as you get older.
I know I got more cautious to the point of calling it a day with my caving career a few years ago, but finding I'm reading up more challenging routes regards walking.
Speaking as a young 53 you understand.

[stevesey]

More challenging

[Ibex]

I got to 31 and realised my life had got really boring and the World seems to be obsessed with safety and being careful etc.
I guess i'm getting a little more 'adventurous' as I get older. Might come a cropper some day, but i'm not too worried.

[Border Reiver]

As you get older you should get more experienced and if you learn from your experiences you learn your limits and capabilities and should stay within them. You'll also be able to assess risk with a higher degree of confidence and make sounder and more rational decisions as you travel.
Being confident isn't enough by itself. The guy that wired our bathroom switch was confident, but he still made a mess of it.
So I guess many older and experienced walkers should be able to take on more challenging routes, without taking the risks that an inexperienced walker might take.

[Fife Flyer]

It's down to knowing your limitations - as you get older (like me, 50 something) you SHOULD get wiser

I know I am not as fit as I was, not that I was ever fit in the first place

Am always cautious especially when scrambling, my strength is in my legs, not my arms

[gammy leg walker]

Speaking as a young 53 you understand.

I also am a young 54 you understand and am trying longer routes all the time.(in my dreams anyway)

[adgl1604]

About this time last year I realised what a fat lump I'd become so I lost 4 stones and got fitter than I've ever been in my life. I intend making maximum use of this fitness and whilst I won't be wilfully reckless I certainly won't be walking away from any challenges I consider within my capabilities. You're too long dead to spend the short time you have complying with health and safety regulations.

[Fife Flyer]

complying with health and safety regulations.

Thankfully those killjoys haven't reached the hills yet
That discussion is for another day

[scoob999]

Push your limits spider and keep building them up

[colgregg]

I definitely am getting more cautious. A few years ago I was full of ambition to do stuff like the Inn Pin, and the such like. Now, at 58, I think to myself does it really matter if I don't get to do it. Course it doesn't, I'd rather go for a walk and get home safely than risk life and limb. Not that I've got to the stage of planning riverside strolls yet!!

[Newbie1]

Maybe, its a mid-life crisis thing Spider, or your just suicidal

[wotnowalshy]

I seem to get more ambitious, but sadly when I actually get on the hills I find that being increasingly cautious and less fit, means that I rarely end up achieving what I set out to do. This really hit home on a trip to Skye this year.
I've decided to start scaling things back a bit and accept I can't do really long, multi-summit, tough routes anymore.
Being (over) cautious didn't set in until a couple of years when I had a minor fall on easy ground, breaking a couple of ribs.
I'm now 50.

[jmarkb]

A bit more cautious. I don't often solo rock or winter climbs any more, or go scrambling on wet/loose terrain.

[Lightfoot2017]

I’m well past the stage of being an irresponsible sprightly young buck, I’m more on the down-slope to becoming a doddery auld git. Some days I feel as fit as a butchers dog, and as carefree and reckless as a teenager (never a good idea, I know!); other days it’s all I can do to bag an easy ‘double hit’ in the Angus hills. These days, I find my confidence and chutzpah waxes and wanes quite a bit…I think it must be a male menstrual cycle or something like that?

I have two wee boys, and I think this certainly gives an added dimension to confidence and risk-taking: do I REALLY have to walk that ridge in Winter without crampons or an ice-axe? (don’t ask, but true!)..... errmmm..NO!

Recent experience plays a part too; I had quite a nervy experience on Liathach last year which kind of kicked my confidence in the teeth; so for the next few months I was far more cautious and only bagged the more genteel Munros.

[Lightfoot2017]

About this time last year I realised what a fat lump I'd become so I lost 4 stones .

Mind me asking..how the heck did you manage to lose FOUR STONE in a year!? Gastric band?

I want a piece of that action!!!

PS: Well done btw!!