We are here at Grand Canyon, my favorite place to hike, to talk about tips for older hikers.
If you want to watch a video that is a celebration of the joys of aging, you might as well turn this off now. You see, you cannot power through aging, you need to work with it. This video is an honest exploration of strategies that help you accommodate the aging process and keep hiking well into your senior years.
When I was young, we used to have a multi-story home and as a kid I would try to jump from the top stair to the landing, half way down, and it was a great game. Later in life I would be in a hurry and I would take steps two at a time. Now that I am in my mid-60's I put my hand on the handrail and I go down one stair at a time, very carefully.
Here’s another example, a medicine bottle. I cannot read it, or drive safely without glasses. My point with both these examples is, the body changes with time and we change our behavior to accommodate the aging process, and if you make such accommodations while hiking, it can be more rewarding than ever!
One of my sayings is, “there is no substitute for experience,” To put that into the imperative and as a tip for the older hiker, Tip: Use your experience.
The secret weapon of the older hiker is the early start.
● Benefits are numerous:
● Rest breaks
● Extra time for problems or emergencies
● Solitude on the trail
Tip: Get the equipment you need and deserve. Shoes, in particular, are where the rubber literally meets the road. By the time you reach age 50, 50% of the fat on the heel of your foot is gone, the muscles weakened, the bones spread, and good shoes are essential.
Tip: Don’t compete with other hikers and don’t compete with your younger self.
● It is natural to get slower as the year go by.
● Here’s something I say to myself often, Instead of saying how slow you are, say, “at least I am out here, at least I am doing it,” and realize that so many of your age-mates are not.
● You may be older and slower, but at least you have more time, and perhaps the quality of your experience is better than those rushing through and competing. Stop and savor the experience, do not rush.
Tip: Watch every step. This sounds a little silly, but the results of a mis-step can mean the end of your hike or the end of your hiking career.
Tip: Stop before you look/stop when you talk
● Trained to look at people when you meet them, but one of the most dangerous times for tripping, you have extra time, so stop before you greet your fellow hikers or enjoy the views.
● For heavens sake, do not use a cell phone on the move!
● Early start and more time allow you to do this!
On the same note, here’s a reminder I give myself on every hike, make it fun, not work. You are retired, have a good time. It is easy to focus on times or miles or competition or accomplishments, but you are out here for yourself, don’t push, take time to enjoy and be kind to yourself. That tip, make it fun, not work.
Now this point is important: Use hiking poles
● Here’s a quiz, what is the most common fear among younger people: Fear of public speaking v. fear of falling
● Worse balance, worse injuries, slower healing.
● Falls are the top accidental cause of injury and accidental cause of death among seniors. Fall are serious. The best thing you can use to prevent falls is hiking poles.
● Poles are like glasses, they are awkward and inconvenient, but keep me driving safely. Similarly, poles keep me hiking safely. There is never a hike where poles have not saved me from an ankle twist or a fall.
● HIKING POLES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ACCOMMODATION OF THE PROCESS OF AGING AND THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL TO KEEP YOU ON THE TRAIL WELL INTO YOUR SENIOR YEARS.
● One final consideration: Gloves: As I age, my skin tears and bruises more easily, these weight lifting gloves give me protection from abrasions from the pole straps.
The next tip may be somewhat counterintuitive and uncomfortable for some, but that is: Acknowledge your mortality, or to personalize it, you are going to die. Thinking about mortality is useful to me first because it is the reality, and second, because if you take that coin and you flip it over, the only choice that I see is to live. Acknowledging that you are going to die is a motivator to get out and do things.
My recommendation is to get out there while you can. Hiking can increase you endurance, improve your health and add adventure to life. You are a survivor, you have experience, so go out and savor and celebrate life. Squeeze the best out of each day. Happy hiking to you.