What 40 Years of Backpacking Taught Me About Hiking at 59
Probably Fine Outdoors
19,274 views
If you're getting into—or staying with—backpacking as you get older, please consider subscribing. That's mostly what I talk about here.
At 59, I still enjoy long days on trail—but I approach backpacking differently than I did when I was younger.
I pay more attention to sleep, nutrition, hydration, recovery, and the conditions I’m actually dealing with. I plan more carefully, but I’m also more willing to change the plan when that makes sense.
After roughly forty years of backpacking, I’m still adjusting my gear and learning what works for me on a particular trip. The biggest change, though, may be that I appreciate the experience more now.
In this video, I talk about what backpacking in my late 50s actually looks like for me—from mileage and comfort to medication, satellite communication, recovery, and simply slowing down enough to notice where I am.
I’d be interested to hear from other longtime hikers: What has changed for you over the years—not just physically, but in the way you experience a trip?
00:00 Backpacking at 59
01:08 Mileage
02:21 Comfort
03:18 Personal Care
04:30 Planning
05:29 Recovery
06:15 Gear
07:05 What I Notice Now
07:47 Final Thoughts
#Backpacking #BackpackingOver50 #HikingOver50
20 Comments
This was a fun video to listen to thank you. We do look at hiking and backpacking differently now. You nailed it!
I took off a few decades, and I’m happily back to Hiking and now into thru- hikes around the world.
I always enjoy the journey not just the destination as well.
Aches and pains have certainly gotten worse and take forever to resolve, but I always say to my doctors. The best medicine for me is movement especially through the woods!
Arthritis and chronic back and neck pain plus plantar fasciitis in the feet and chondromalacia in the knees won’t keep me down.
It was a struggle, keeping up with the young people on the Tour du Mont Blanc guided hike. But I did it! It was worth every step up the grueling mountains of the Alps.
Just recently hiked the W. Highland Way with my sister in Scotland.
Nature is our playground, even at this age.
Go out and enjoy mother nature at her best, everybody!
Great video 👍 really enjoyed it.
I love my backpacking be it in the mountians or forrest, be it long or short, in a tent, hamock or an open cabin. Just getting out there, breathing the fresh air and connecting with nature. That is my best medisin.
Thank you for posting this 😊
I'm 64 and despite the extra effort it now takes to get up those hills when carrying your home on your back, I persevere with what I love most. Nothing beats waking up to a magnificent sunrise when high on to tops, particually when there's a temperature inversion.
What 40 Years of Backpacking Taught Me About Hiking at 59
Probably Fine Outdoors
19,274 views
If you're getting into—or staying with—backpacking as you get older, please consider subscribing. That's mostly what I talk about here.
At 59, I still enjoy long days on trail—but I approach backpacking differently than I did when I was younger.
I pay more attention to sleep, nutrition, hydration, recovery, and the conditions I’m actually dealing with. I plan more carefully, but I’m also more willing to change the plan when that makes sense.
After roughly forty years of backpacking, I’m still adjusting my gear and learning what works for me on a particular trip. The biggest change, though, may be that I appreciate the experience more now.
In this video, I talk about what backpacking in my late 50s actually looks like for me—from mileage and comfort to medication, satellite communication, recovery, and simply slowing down enough to notice where I am.
I’d be interested to hear from other longtime hikers: What has changed for you over the years—not just physically, but in the way you experience a trip?
00:00 Backpacking at 59
01:08 Mileage
02:21 Comfort
03:18 Personal Care
04:30 Planning
05:29 Recovery
06:15 Gear
07:05 What I Notice Now
07:47 Final Thoughts
#Backpacking #BackpackingOver50 #HikingOver50
I think I appreciate the quiet parts more now than I did when I was younger. If you enjoy this video, please check out my channel and consider subscribing, I'd really appreciate it! Happy trails!