70+ YEAR OLD PCT THRU-HIKERS INTERVIEWED
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
- While heading into Vermillion Valley Resort on the Pacific Crest Trail I got the opportunity to sit down and chat with Sam and Kathy to learn more about what it takes to attempt a thru-hike in your 70s.
I did a more extensive write up about our visit and the shakedown I gave them for Hyperlite Mountain Gear's blog which you can read below.
Hyperlite article -
www.hyperlitemountaingear.com...
Music in this video by the talented Shag. Check them out on Spotify or Bandcamp below:
shag.bandcamp.com/
open.spotify.com/artist/1r9tN...
Perfect final advice. My daughter when dating…they went camping/hiking for 2 weeks. It rained everyday, so they hiked, kayaked,camped in the rain. So when she came home and said she had a great trip, I said “he’s the one” and they are getting married this week.
My wife and I met on our Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike in 2018 at Fontana Dam and hiked the whole way to Katahdin together. We got married last year before leaving for the PCT. It was the ultimate first date lol
This is my 14 year on The AT I will finish my section hike. I have 117 mile to go 100 mile wilderness and mount Katahdin . I am hoping for PCT in 2027 hope to retire in 2026 God Bless them
I'm 69. I don't feel old, but taking on an endeavor to hike 2000-3000 miles is a pretty lofty endeavor, IMO.
I'm nearly 60 but due to alot of injuries and hard line sports I have the body of a 90 year old. Going UL is the only reason I can still thru hike.
What an inspiration. I’m doing the PCT at 66
That's great! I hope to still be on trails as much as I can at that age!
Great couple, great motivation. I'm 65 and doing the NH 4000s
Please, I’m seventy years old and walk past much younger people every time I hike. Still do 20+ mile days routinely. Off next week to finish my last section of the AT and then off next year to Mt. Whitney and other adventures. Keep moving, that’s all it takes.
Thanks- Turing 69 in December. I dream of hiking the Foothills Trails in South Carolina for almost 30 years. People have discouraged me because they think I'm too old. I tell them I've hiked Philmont and some similar trails in the past. I'm ready and getting in shape. For me it's never too old to do what you want to do. Thanks again for the video
Too cool! You are never too old to hike, it's just a matter of speed. I'm 71 and have Lyme Disease. If I could still hike (had to stop because the Lyme affected my knees) I would thru hike again.
I thru hiked the A.T. in 1990 and met a man named J.R. Tate. He was on his first thru hike and if I remember correctly, he was 67 years old. He went on to successfully thru hike the A.T. 4 times total. He is an incredible individual.
Great questions, and topic❤
Great video. I'm Tinman. My wife is Oliveoyl. I'm Tinman because "Blood beard" gave it to me at mm52 at Pioneer Mail Picnic area. He gave it to me because 10 months prior to starting my PCT LASH, I had a heart attack and quadruple open heart bypass. I was 61 years old in 2021. I have a channel and in my first 11.4 miles I stated the same thing. Don't just sit there, if you want to do something, get out there and do it, whether it's sewing, cooking or hiking. Life is short and for us, hiking is living life in a way that is more natural than making scrambled eggs in a cast iron pan so to speak. I'm now 65, Oliveoyl is &^%# years old. We need to hike because we love it. It's part of our lives. We want to attempt a thru hike but we need to take care of getting ready to retire type of stuff which isn't all that great. I'm also a nurse and know somethings that can take anyone out of the trail especially an older person. Thanks for making this video. Hike on!
I turn 70 in two weeks - walked A LOT during the lockdown. I now am getting back into my cycling, compensating for my age with appropriate bicycles (recumbent, crank forward bicycles, full suspension mountain bike). It's a similar process, I would imagine, as one ages, to do long distance walking. Thank you for soliciting the input of these two fellow "agers".
Loved his "life advice" about vetting a potential partner by taking a 2-week hiking vacation w/ them - that is pretty wise :)
For sure! When Honeybear! and I met on the AT we were at Fontana Dam and hiked all the way to Maine together. You learn pretty quickly who someone is when you're out in the woods.
I don't think you even need two weeks. A long weekend will give you pretty much all the info you need to know. Or, take a wilderness canoe trip to the BWCAW, similar thing.
Take a 2 week hiking vacation together - I completely agree with you 👍
I love it so great to see. MY Wife won't do it but I'm planning in 2 years at age 65.
It's great to have a support person if she's willing.
Really good interview. I'm planning on doing the PCT SOBO when I'm 70 or 71 (4 more years). I live near San Diego so I want to start in Canada and walk home. Their story was inspirational.
I'm glad to hear that Rick! When I heard how old they were I knew I had to sit down and pick their ear
@@SomeDudeWalking Really enjoy your channel. I need to get off my lazy butt and create one of my own.
Another Strategy is the flip flop... start at the mid point and walk north, then fly back to the mid point and walk south. There's some benefit to this... Likely you will miss the snow starting around the Lassen area heading North and all the way to Canada, then walking south miss all the snow and wild rivers of the Sierras and walk the desert when it's cooler. You beat the crowds yet there's still community. Depending on the snowfall SOBO requires one to be quick to avoid the Sierras when it's starting to snow again and all of the transport is done for the season. Just a thought. PCT org can walk thru the details.
Great Interview!!!! That's the best Advice ever (At the end of the Vieo) ✨✨❤❤✌✌
At 62 I hiked much of the pct until I had to abandon due to fires and closures of all the CA National forests. I was on a flip flop going north from the halfway point then south when I had to stop. Definitely I go ultralight and i feel quite comfortable. I'm small size and have had a collapsed lung in the past with complications, so hills are more difficult. Presently I'm in France about to head out on a thru. I'm about to turn 64. At 54, I hiked the TA in NZ. There's a difference in the strength from those years to next so I'd say to not hesitate.
Wow. What an awesome couple.
TELLURIDE. That's my favorite ski town in the world!
Spent an evening with these folks at the Cottonwood trailhead just before their 2018 JMT restart and my last JMT segment. Great to see they completed that hike and most impressive that they then took on the PCT.
Great interview. Very solid and inspiring couple.
Thank you! It was a real pleasure getting to chat with them!
Great couple and awesome information. I feel very inspired to get going. Thanks!
I just now really enjoyed your interview and read your article as well. Husband and I are both 64 and are tentatively planning to hike the TCT (Trans Catalina Trail) in Oct/Nov 2023. I’ve gone on two backpacking trips, ever. First in 2020, just as Covid was starting, hiking 3 days, 22 miles, in the Grouse Ridge area outside Truckee, CA and came home with 7 huge blisters from a too heavy pack and shoes that were to small from swollen feet. It was great though. Two years later a second trip, new Oboz shoes, less weight, and only two blisters. Right now buying some Altra Lone Peak 6’s and have bought a new lighter weight pack. Husband and I are pretty fit, but hoping we RV’ers can also do some backpacking trips together. You are helping me to believe we can do this, thanks! I’ll probably message you with questions 😊
Thank you! I feel very fortunate that I was able to capture something that seems to be resonating with many people. 22 miles over 3 days is still no simple trip, that's some pretty decent coverage. I like Altras and I don't know that I will switch to anything else for a trail shoe. I am currently wearing the Olympus but I enjoyed the older Temp models as well. I used Lone Peaks the entire Appalachian Trail and I think I would recommend something with a little more cushion after the experience. You'll obviously find out for yourself, but, if you do find that the Lone Peak is a bit too minimal, you can't go wrong with one of the more cushiony models as well. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment!
Wow what a great video!! Amazing couple. I’ve found these channels with all these thru hikers I never knew it existed but I love watching there journeys I also love to hike so this sure has gotten me very interested maybe to start a section hike and see how I do out here camping & carrying all your gear!!
That is so awesome to hear Dina, comments like these are exactly why I wanted to interview them and post it.
If you do decide to take the leap and have any questions about gear and things like that don't hesitate to ask!
What an inspiration!
Glad you helped shave some pack weight. Amazing couple. So cool to see people in that age group. Keeps me motivated to get ready for next year. I'm a little younger so I have bits and pieces of wear and tear on the body. I'm training these areas. Thank you. Keep trekking. 😀
It was definitely inspiring! I felt pretty fortunate to get some insight from an older active couple like them. My grandparents retired into cruises as a main means of vacation and travel so it's quite a bit different lol
That was delightful. thank-you! I'm 70, myself.
Thank you. Seeing both ends of spectrum this year. You have these great folks on the PCT and on the AT there is a family of 3 whos soon is 5 years old.
That was great ! Don’t think that i’ll get to do it now. Way overweight and the logistics are too much like work. Had great aspirations following various Americans on their wonderful adventures .
Very good video, got me thinking. Am now 64 years old and will probably activate my hiking boots again. Thank you Kathy, Sam and you for the awakening. One more question, are you still in contact with the two and how far have they come? Stay healthy and greetings from Germany Peter
Great questions.
Timely video for me. I'm 69yo and thinking of the AT next year. This answered a lot of questions for me. Very well conducted interview and the hikers are good motivators.
Thanks for sharing Kathy & Sam. Questions I never hear Old Folks discuss: 1) Sleeping on the ground... it gets a LOT harder as your body gets older... tips? 2) Getting up from the ground... do you have to get on your knees or can you go from sit to stand? Is it important? 3) Advil... how many pounds do you carry? 😁
At their age OTC like Advil would be a stupid move.
U make me feel so puny.......not mad.....not offended.....i like to see things as they are....
I'm 69, prepping to finish the JMT with a hike of Mt. Whitney. I've been nervous about this final leg of the journey but your interview helps me think I'll do just fine. Did they share their pack weights? Just curious how much they carry.
I dont remember off the top of my head, there's some more info in the article I wrote
@@SomeDudeWalking I'll check it out, thanks!