Face to face with old age

[Paul Wagner]

Talk about confronting your mortality. This hike up Ralston Peak in Desolation Wilderness knocked me for a loop. I took it slow. I had all day to hike six miles, but I wasn’t really prepared for my 72-year-old legs to need two hours to climb 2,000 feet. And in the sun I used up much of my water, as well. I made it another mile (one half-mile contours around the peak, the other climbs another 500 feet in half a mile) in time for lunch. I drank the rest of my water and thanked my stars that I was done with the hard climbs for the day. From the top of a mountain, it’s all downhill, right?

Almost. A nasty little 150-foot climb to go over a knoll on the way to the PCT gave me one more chance to flex those quads and hamstrings. Ugh. (Why not just contour AROUND the knoll? Only trail makers will know the answer to that one…)

But I did make it to zone 39 and set up camp by the middle of the afternoon. The first thing I did was filter some water, because I was showing clear signs of dehydration. And the rest of trip was delightful—until I had to climb back down those bobsled runs the next day on my way home. That hurt.

The whole story is here, complete with more photos and a link to the whole photo log: https://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/another-desolation-adventure

[Paul Wagner]

I do get to meet a lot of really good people as a volunteer on the trail. There are families, sharing the experience with the third or fourth generation of Desolation hikers. There are fearless groups of young urbanites, full of energy, setting forth to experience the mountains for the first time.

There are veteran backpackers who have their favorite spots away from the crowds, and thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail who might well be hiking through the whole area in a single day. They are universally friendly, helpful, and happy to chat with me about their experiences, their concerns, and any questions they might have about wildlife, trail mileage, or anything else.

But every once in a while I meet someone who makes me stop and rethink the whole thing.

On my last hike up Ralston Peak, I struggled against old age and a brutal climb to make it near the top, where I was planning to eat my somewhat overdue lunch. And that’s when I ran into them: two young women, possibly sisters, who were as fit and lithe as gazelles. They were hiking in running shorts and sports bras, with only trailrunners on their feet, and one carried a tiny day pack. The would not have looked out of place in a city park, out for a stroll.

I greeted them and asked them where they had hiked, expecting to be able to congratulate them for making it to the top of the peak. But no. They had hiked over the peak, back down along the PCT to Lake of the Woods, and were now on their way back over the peak and down to their car at the trailhead. All of this before lunch. And they didn’t look a bit tired, or have a single hair out of place.

I am a grumpy old man.

 

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

I enjoy my hikes.  Time doesn’t really matter to me, I just need to take a break from living in the Los Angeles area.  I remeber hiking Rae Lakes Loop: it took about 5 days (from teh Western side).  We came across 3 people who were running the loop and it was going to take them around 24 hours or so.  Waking up pre-dawn and finishing long after dark.  I somewhat admired them while I was relaxing and soaking in the views.  I have zero interest in trading places with them.  Old and slow but enjoying the pace.  My 2 cents.

[Brad W]

Great trip report.

I don’t think you should judge oneself on speed of ascent of a particular hike. I consider myself relatively fit and depending on the day I could do relatively well on 1000+/ft per mile or not good at all. What I mean is I have been surprised in both directions with all other variables seemingly the same. I have jammed up the steepest thing I have ever climbed-3,300ft/ 1 mile and just ate rocks for 5 miles on a 5,500 ft gain. What I have found as I get older is asking myself, why am I trying to hike so fast? I don’t have an answer for that yet.

[Nick Gatel]

I’m getting older too. 74 in 3 months. What I am finding is that I have to work too hard (spend too much time) trying to stay in shape to do these steep elevation gains at my previous pace. I don’t want to spend a few hours everyday exercising to be able to do what I could do just a few years ago. I have other hobbies and interests I want (and planned) to enjoy in my retirement. It is easiest to simply pick more moderate hikes and enjoy those. They only thing I hope to do is to continue backpacking for many more years, if that is in the cards.

[Terran Terran]

I’m exploring the places that I used to pass.

[jscott]

I used to feel really good about hiking from Happy Isles to the top of Nevada Falls with a full backpack in 1 hour 45 mins. That seems equivalent to what you did. My pack was probably a bit heavier than yours, or even a lot as this was always the start of a spring trip into the  backcountry for 5 or 6 days. Still, you’re doing better than what I could manage as I turn 70 next month!

It’s all about discovering something new about life and the wilderness. Here’s Goya:

https://maria-cristina.medium.com/great-art-i-am-still-learning-a%C3%BAn-aprendo-by-francisco-goya-interpretation-and-analysis-9e22addad147

[Kevin Babione]

Thanks for the trip report and the brutal honesty Paul.  I feel like I should be a spring chicken since I’m “only” turning 60 this year.  I had the honor of celebrating Bob Moulder’s (of Moulder-Strip fame) 60th birthday on the trail 8 years ago and remember hoping that I’d be able to hike half as fast as he does when I hit 60…

This was a fun trip (the West Rim Trail in PA) because we had, with a lot of shuttling, access to a car on our first night out so it was more of a car camping experience.  No – nobody carried a birthday cake in their pack!

Anyway, as I continue to become less young (I’m decidedly NOT getting older), I look to many of you to remind me that I can still get out in the woods to renew and rejuvenate, even if I’m not doing it the way I did 10-20 years ago.

Thanks all!

[peter v]

here’s what chafes my butt  … I am working my way up some nice long grade, at a decent pace, and looking pretty good, what I begin to notice that the ancient and decrepit bag-lady in front of me, shuffling along all hunched over at a snail’s pace, is NOT getting much closer to me. now mind you, I am resperating strongly and as I believe mentioned, Looking Pretty Good.

she should have been performance dropped and put on the trailer some time ago, and yet, she insists of being right there, in front of me.

from such experiences, I have come to trust so much my own views on how fast i am climbing these days. it has really fooled me a couple of times, how good I can feel, and yet, how lamely slow I am ascending.

sure, I still smoke them on the downhills, but that is scant rewards for getting stuffed on the climb.

cheers,

v.

[Paul Wagner]

When you get old enough, the downhills are what kill you!

[AK Granola]

I had the great pleasure of hiking this past weekend with a lady who was 76, another one 75, and they weren’t fast but they were sure-footed, steady and solid. Add in knowledge and experience and there’s no “bag lady” crap to speak of. Do or do not, there is no try.

[Alan W]

Just spent a week clearing trails in Greenhorn Wilderness Area of SE CO: crosscut saws, single and double bit axes, wedges, Peavey, Silky saws and loppers. USFS B-sawyer certified.  Ages 84, 82, 72, 70, 65. Longest day was 7 miles across 11,800 ft.  Hardest day was 94°F afternoon at lowest elevation.

Trail went right against a natural rock mineral lick, and we were <100 ft before sheep bolted, though they quickly returned after we passed.  Sangre de Cristo range is in background with views of Culebra, Spanish Peaks, Lindsey, Blanca, (Little Bear hidden), Ellingwood, Crestone Needle, Crestone, Humboldt, Kit Carson. Challenger.

[Paul Wagner]

Nice work, Alan.  I do similar work in the Mokelumne Wilderness here in the Sierra, although most of the other people on those trips are younger, often far younger, than I.

And no mountain sheep.

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