...time to hang up my boots?

[LDPWalker]

mynthdd2

I'm 62 and I will go on for many years more yet, I love it too much! These days I tend to do less hard climbing (the problem is not the ups, but steep downs - they play havoc with my knees). I have just returned from doing the 130 mile Moray Way which, apart from a few climbs, is largely on level railway beds and gentle coast paths. It was a super walk and caused no knee problems. There are plenty of less demanding walks but beautiful and interesting walks like the Fife Coast, the Norfolk, Suffolk and Northumberland coasts. I did the length of the Severn a few years ago and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, again both not too demanding but lovely walks. In short, I would recommend looking for things with less climbing and lots of interest.

Roger

[litljortindan]

Certainly thinking about hanging up my astroturf shoes but I keep going back. I'd agree with the consensus of keeping going but making it easier for yourself, a process I'm already engaged with myself at a mere fifty years of age. I do mostly wee hills and coastal walks these days and I really enjoy that.

[BobMcBob]

I'm pushing 50 now and with a back injury I'm finding I can't do what I used to, but getting into the hills is one of the things that makes me happy and I've found that while I've had to adjust my expectations of what I can do this hasn't affected my enjoyment of doing it at all. I bought my first walking pole the other week. Wish I'd had one 20 years ago

[spiderwebb]

Cripes I hope thats not retirement age for hill walking but it does creep up on you. I've noticed that 'hill fitness' needs to be maintained, at whatever level you require for your own personal endeavours. It use to be something I didn't have to think about but as I approach 'the age' a few weeks off can set me back a fair bit. Years ago I never 'trained' as in gym or running etc, none of that ever interested me (still doesn't), but luckily being a slight build (except a certain area around the waist line, that fluctuates ) I never had to do anything to retain enough fitness to enjoy what I loved.
As been said i don't think you can fight nature, walking the hills in all weathers teaches you that, but I'm sure there are things you can do, and must, as any sport/hobby is less enjoyable if you're suffering, and we all know that feeling, ie not having suitable gear on a bad weather day
You may need to set your sights lower, and I for one have started looking at places that I might never have done before. An old back injury appears to have returned of late (waiting to see an 'expert') but luckily it doesn't seem to affect me walking.
If you're a true hill loving person, then it will be what makes you who you are, and to that extent, yes fight it, as you'll miss it, and keeping going will maintain some level of fitness into those later years; you've made it this far and that is far better and more fulfilling than just staying home Keep well

[EileanB]

When age and heart trouble curtailed my Father's hill-walking ambitions, he found all the hills in the area you could drive some of the way up. He got much more satisfaction from missing out the bottom few (hundred?) feet in the interests of being able to reach the summit and see the views than from sticking to low level walking, and we found lots of places where we could drive to a col and do a manageable walk from there.

[mynthdd2]

not sure about a boat unless it is a Calmac and has RET..... (and how long will that last!!??)

[mynthdd2]

PS sorry my 'boat' reference refers to an earlier reply but thank you so much to all the encouraging posts - just seems weird I suppose that I am now lowering my sights re big days out after having taken it for granted for so long. However, I have a mountain of memories so pass me the rocking chair and a Talisker

[mynthdd2]

belay my first whinge - I have just returned from an excellent week's walking in the Five Finger mountains of North Cyprus - all the old fun came flooding back and I feel as fit as a butchers dog

[Sgurr]

Was worried about going to Wales last month to finish my final six Welsh Marilyns , as they were all hills husband had done already i.e. when he was young and fit. However we managed to do Elider Fawr, Y Garn, Glyder Fawr, Canrnedd Llewellyn, Tryfan and Plynlimon (all but the latter over Munro height) in the fortnight we were there. Most of us got to the top of most things though our ages are 80, nearly 80, 78,77 & 77 and at 78 I did them all. I think it is all a matter of good genes & not stopping walking. I am sure the age of hill walkers is increasing, we were only just over 60 when we did the Ring of Steall and someone first asked "Do you mind if I ask how old you are?" But these days half the people we meet look as if they could be past retirement age. The really impressive person was the 80 year old. It turns out that pushing his late wife's wheel chair for over 30 years and keeping a huge garden under control have made him as fit, if not fitter than the rest of us, though he has been unable to do hill walking until three years ago. The only problem is that he gets a bit nervous in cloud, but age should be no barrier to taking up hill walking either.

Never hang up those boots. There will come a day when you put them on and just can't walk a step, and that will be the time to call it a day. (Unless you stop enjoying it.)

[mynthdd2]

that is so encouraging - thanks!

[Bothybob]

An auld pal of mine (now gone) used to say when yi get up in the mornin pit yir bits on no yer baffies, and at 78 I am still hillwalking, last week did the circuit of the Blackwater dam, my problem now is lack of balance

[mynthdd2]

Grey Pride!!!!!

[Brian Mcculloch]

I am 61and have had over 40 years hillwalking. Now? my knees sound like a box of Rice Chrispies as I even walk up stairs - my hip aches after a walk and my feet look like the before photo in an ad for healthy looking feet products.

I am carrying more fat and less muscle which makes the walk even more laborious rather than the fun it used to be - my planned routes are getting shorter and have less altitude - I have little or no enthusiasm for gear shops...

is this inevitable or should I try to defy nature?

aaaaagh

A

Certain things in life are inevitable but there's always that little possibility to defy all odds. I would say do not stress yourself too much and just follow your intuitions.

[Steve B]

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.