Old Guys Backpacking

I'm not old yet. But a NeoAir that is under 16 ounces has trumped 4 ounce foam pads the past couple of years.

Pee bottle? Heck, I contribute it to my kidneys working better the last couple years! :) I take vitamin I in hopes to prevent vertigo, usually after the first day I should be good to go, but always that nagging feeling in my mind, especially on group trips which may only be a few times a year.
Duane

Duane, I've had my first few bouts with vertigo. It was a shocking sensation, especially the first time it happened. It usually takes me a couple of days to totally shake off the effects.

I found this article very interesting and it certainly suggests that if you want to keep walking at a good pace when you age, you had better get moving! This excerpt from the article sums it up nicely:

“In fact, when the researchers compared their older runners’ walking efficiency to that of young people, which had been measured in earlier experiments at the same lab, they found that 70-year-old runners had about the same walking efficiency as your typical sedentary college student. Old runners, it appeared, could walk with the pep of young people.

Older walkers, on the other hand, had about the same walking economy as people of the same age who were sedentary. In effect, walking did not prevent people from losing their ability to walk with ease.”

You also have to consider adding some weight training if you want to delay the inevitable. This article has some good info about maintaining muscle as you age.

I'm 65 years old. I have found that yoga helps me keep a bit of flexibility, but I'm far from flexible. I do yoga, calisthenics, and weight training, plus ride my recumbent trike to work everyday. I have not taken a car to work in 7 years. Before a week long backpack I walk to work for a month, carrying a backpack with increasing weight. two weeks before the last trip I climbed a 12,000' peak, then rested, and felt pretty strong on the hike.

I use a camp chair, and they are nice. By lightening my pack, I make a place for a few luxuries like the camp chair. A review of my chair and some pictures are here:

http://backpackingtechnology.com/backpacking-trips/backpacking-chair-rei-flexlite-chair/

wide mouth gatoraid bottle for a pee bottle.

I definitely need some thickness under my hips and shoulders, and a neoaire works pretty well.

and of course, the process of lightening the pack is ongoing.

I totally understand how hard it is to get out of a low tent in the middle of the night. My poles poles are used to set up the tent, so there is nothing for me to hold on to when I get up. I have to crawl straight out past the vestibule, then struggle to my feet. No fun at all. The pee bottle solves that problem.

I do some gear testing for backpacker magazine, and I once told them that I was probably not their target demographic. She said that the older hiker was a big demographic for them. Apparently the younger folk are not as active in backpacking as the old folks. they have more options, I suppose.

"Apparently the younger folk are not as active in backpacking as the old folks. they have more options, I suppose."

Naw, they're just wimps… ;-)

Mike,

I'm not an expert in research methods but I'm not sure that the study results are solid evidence that running caused the benefits. The walking group of people might have been different than the running group to start with. Perhaps the running group was healthier, stronger, faster, more coordinated, etc. and that's why they chose to run or continue running…..not the reverse.

Using a hammock, I'm as comfortable laying there on the 14th hour as I am on the first hour. Try that lying on the ground. That was done in a snow storm on a trip that was planned with a calendar.

Using time to avoid weather. In retirement, I can wait at home for the storm to pass, add one day for the road to dry out, then go on a five day trip before the next storm arrives. High altitude mountaineers do the same at a base camp, waiting for a storm to pass, then summit before the next one. I head out of the mountains when I see cirrus clouds. Try putting that on a calendar.

BPL and the cottage manufacturers have helped me to backpack in retirement.

Choose to live where the recreation suits you. Where the deserts have mountain ranges, you can adjust the temperature by the altitude, all year. Twenty miles from my house in either of two directions, changes the altitude by 2000 feet each way. At the lowest altitudes, I don't need serious winter gear to backpack there this month, and can use the same light gear at higher altitudes later this year.

Vertigo it seems, is common among older folks but take care to get it checked out by docs who can give you a positive diagnosis. I suffered a few nasty bouts and was treated by a local ENT group and after throwing a few steroids at the problem they finally diagnosed me with Meniere's disease. After a little research I found out that Meniere's disease is more often than not the diagnosis when the doc's have no idea what else to do with you. I pursued my situation with doc's who knew better and was immediately diagnosed with bilateral vestibular damage. It literally took about 30 seconds for them to tell me what was wrong with a simple head movement test. They followed this up with a visual balance test and sure enough 1 ear was 100% dysfunctional and the other 50%. I have since probably lost all of my inner ear function but at least a more positive/professional diagnosis eliminates other possibilities even more serious such as brain tumors or the like.

I learned after a PM contact that there is at least 1 other member here in the same boat as me and it was inspiring/comforting to know that he too is pressing on under this difficult condition.

jimmby

I don't waste time doing any of all that silly healthy stuff. Instead, plenty of booze, dancing and singing all night in the meadows with the wildlife, and feeling just peachy. And I'll soon be past 30 already. By 40, I expect to have grown a good pair of horns, just like some of my woodland pals.

"'Apparently the younger folk are not as active in backpacking as the old folks. they have more options, I suppose.'

Naw, they're just wimps… ;-) "

Hey hey, no need to put us youngins down to prop yourselves up, we got enough strife and segregation here at BPL as it is, we don't need no age wars on top of the festering grudges and skirmishes between the SUL's, the UL's, the Lights, and the "I don't give a bleep's".

Well, a blast from the past i dedicate to all of you old rockers and this thread: "No, you're never too old to Rock'n'Roll if you're too young to die."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csNEkYFeyok

Alexander had a number of foot soldiers in their 60's who made it all the way to India and back.

In his 50's, Hadrian could march over 20 miles a day with full battle gear.

What's the difference between them and men today? They started marching as teenagers and they never stopped. We're talking vast distances practically every single day.

COSISTENCY IS THE KEY.

An article I wrote almost two years ago

"COSISTENCY IS THE KEY."

What the heck does that mean?

–B.G.–

Whenever the trumpet gave the signal of departure, the camp was almost instantly broke up, and the troops fell into their ranks without delay or confusion. Besides their arms, which the legendaries scarcely considered as an encumbrance, they were laden with their kitchen furniture, the instruments of fortification, and the provision of many days. Under this weight, which would oppress the delicacy of a modern soldier, they were trained by a regular step to advance, in about six hours, near twenty miles. On the appearance of an enemy, they threw aside their baggage, and by easy and rapid evolutions converted the column of march into an order of battle. The slingers and archers skirmished in the front; the auxiliaries formed the first line, and were seconded or sustained by the strength of the legions; the cavalry covered the flanks, and the military engines were placed in the rear.

Gibbon, Edward. History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire – Volume 1 (p. 21). Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition.

Hi Nick

Gibbon – he was a school pal of yours maybe?

Cheers

<< …I'm not sure that the study results are solid evidence that running caused the benefits…>

Daryl – I agree with your statement above and in the last paragraph of the article in question, they agree that running may not be required.

What is significant to me in that article and seems like a useful comparison, is that walking alone does not provide you any guarantee that you will continue to be a strong walker. We have a much better chance of being strong walkers as we age, if we add some strenuous exercise to our weekly training routines.

For me (early 60's), I was whining at my office that running is probably doing me more harm than good. A young rock climber in my office overheard my comment and emailed me a link to the article that I referenced in my post above. After reading the article, I'm still running… the evidence is sketchy no doubt, but just in case, I'll keep on running :).

I also do a significant amount of cardio training (non-impact), weight training and stretching. I think this is a definite case of "Your Mileage May Vary" depending on what you do for exercise.

Mike,

Good points.

I too engage in a variety of activities so my actions indicate that I support the article's conclusions.

Bob, when I say CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY I mean that when a guy get's to be middle age he should hike every day in order to avoid injury. I'm 53 and the only time I ever get hurt is when I go without hiking for awhile.
I don't think it's as important for the young guys.

What's the difference between them and men today? They started marching as teenagers and they never stopped.

Indeed! One of Jardine's books started out recounting the tale of an elderly gentleman living on the east coast (Boston maybe?) who decided that he wanted to visit San Fransisco so he set out one spring and walked there. Wintered over in 'frisco and walked back the next year … averaging near 60 miles/day. Jardine also mentioned that the guy had been walking double digit miles near every day of his adult life.

"COSISTENCY IS THE KEY."

This doesn't make any sense.

–B.G.–

"'Apparently the younger folk are not as active in backpacking as the old folks. they have more options, I suppose.'

Naw, they're just wimps… ;-) "

"Hey hey, no need to put us youngins down to prop yourselves up, we got enough strife and segregation here at BPL as it is, we don't need no age wars on top of the festering grudges and skirmishes between the SUL's, the UL's, the Lights, and the "I don't give a bleep's"."

Unfortunately puttin' youngins down is all I got left!

I do use "NO2 Red" time release L-Arginine tablets from GNC or Vitamin World. They release more Nitric Oxide into your blood stream which, in turn, dilates your blood vessels including capillarie. This means not only d your muscles get better blood flow but so do the alveoli in your lungs. This promotes better O2 uptake and CO2 discharge.

I take NO2 at higher altitudes and it makes a difference.

Also there is "IB Lleve" which is two Ibuprofen and one Alleve. Or one of each, depending on the pain level of your aching muscles and joints.

Normally I stay away from all types of over-the-counter and prescription drugs whenever possible but on backpacking and backcountry ski trips it just helps so much to have 'em if the need arises. Plus I don't hold up others in the group due to my "Oldtimers Diseases". ;o)

"Unfortunately puttin' youngins down is all I got left!"

Ah..well.. in that case, flame on you crazy diamond.

My own informal but highly accurate study (unpublished until now) is that running is a destructive kind of exercise. It imparts a lot of impact to the whole human frame, from feet to neck, and everything in between. This smashes connective tissue, and wears it out. Connective tissue doesn't regenerate. When its gone, its time for artificial hips and knees, and fusion of discs.

Everyone has about 20 years of active running in them, and then they are done running. If you are light in weight, you might get more years of running. If you are heavy, fewer years. At that time, they get back problems, knee problems, hip problems, whatever. If you start running at 20, around age 40-50 you will have issues with diminished connective tissue in feet, knees, hips or back. If you start running at age 50, you've still got 20 years.

I ran cross country in high school and college, and until I was about 35. At 35 I could not run due to back and disc issues, but I could still walk and cycle, and thank God, backpack. There are other ways to be aerobically fit than running, and I'd advise anybody to stop running and start walking. For training for backpacking, walking with a pack on works fine.