[pct-l] Oregon Trail Angel Wannabe

[mkwart at gci.net]

Hi:

Tell your friend who is 60 that life is just beginning--even 
backpacking. I am 60 and just completed hiking the Arizona Trail. 
Another woman from Oregon is in her 70's and is doing a section of the 
Continental Divide trail right now. I met many older women on the 
Pacific Crest Trail in 2010. I completed the state of Washington in 
2010. It is a question of "use it or lose it" as far as conditioning 
goes--keep exercising because it is harder to get back into shape when 
you are older. Lose weight if you have to. Buy lightweight gear to 
minimize knee and back problems. Train for the hike with a pack and the 
shoes you will wear on hilly terrain or on a treadmill that has a hill 
option. There is a group of backpackers in Ashland that are all over 60 
years old. They organize overnight backpacking trips for the 
summer-fall. I am the youngest of the group at age 60. It seems there 
could be something similar in Portland.

Fireweed