Improved Tips for Older Hikers

[@lorrainesmith1290]

I love all the insights and advice... "Don't tether your self esteem to the habits of others" needs to go up on my fridge on a full time basis!

[@akwild1]

Thank you. Thoreau had a lot to say about that, too, marching to the beat of a different drummer. Happy Trails!

[@backpacker3421]

Great volume 3!! My rule of thumb on water, developed in the desert, where water sources are few and far between and can often be tainted (finding a carcass in a water cistern is not too unusual) is to: a) ALWAYS drink your fill at the water source. Carry as much inside your body as possible. b) Carry as much as you think you'll need to get to the SECOND water source on the map. Then, if the first water source is bad, start rationing and assume the next one is tainted too and you may need to make it to the third. Oddly enough, the first place this ever saved me was not the desert, but the Florida Trail, I was there in February, and all the smaller water sources had dried into mud flats.

[@akwild1]

A carcass in a cistern? We must have hiked the same trails. Before reaching Etna I passed on drawing water from a cow juice stream. Just couldn’t bear the thought, filter or not. Luckily I found a deep that I could tease 2 liters from that saved the day. I like your recommendation on staying hydrated. Great info. Thank you!

[@MalFunktion1]

Love your husky!

[@akwild1]

Oh, thank you. She's definitely an important part of our family. I did a section about her in Coddiwople II, Princess Buttercup. Thank you for watching.

[@Karen-dq8nw]

The hard part is maintaining those trail legs after the adventure is over. I'm still working, so it's tough to keep it all at peak fitness. Love the howler at the end!

[@akwild1]

So true! I feel your pain. Now that I’m home, I feel my legs losing their edge. Thanks for watching.

[@dwaynestewart411]

I am 62 and a two time stage 4 head and neck cancer survivor and since I can't work any more I have started getting into hiking for two reasons first to get back in shape and most importantly mental health which suffered a lot and I found this video to be very helpful and I appreciate your good advise and have subscribed to your channel. Dwayne

[@akwild1]

Thank you Dwayne for your kind words. I think you’re an inspiration for so many people who might be hesitant about making a change. Please stay in contact with me and share your story. Your best trails are ahead.

[@peterjohnson6273]

Very helpful.

[@akwild1]

Glad to hear! We're all in this together.

[@EllenLangfordPaints]

This is great. Thanks!

[@akwild1]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching.

[@lovedogsontheloose]

I overheat pretty easily, so I'm with you re/ best hiking in 47-ish degrees. My favorite time to be in the mountains is early fall, when overnight temps are close to, or sometimes below freezing, but daytime temps are perfect for hiking. Really enjoying your videos! Thanks!

[@akwild1]

I hear you on all counts. Next week I’ll post a video about a four day Alaska trip and it rained every day. I still prefer cool weather. Thank you for watching!

[@SUEBANGASSER]

Thank you so much! Great tips for my future solo hikes!

[@akwild1]

Absolutely, I’m glad I could help. I hope you have great times on your hikes.

[@ervinslens]

Great work bud, this was elaborated so enjoyably and professionally! Love it! 👏👏

[@akwild1]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching and your kind words.

[@OldBrownDog]

That's great advice I've been training 3 months to finish the NH 48 4000ft 5 to go, 64 years young. My last 4000 was in 2001. These NH mts are no joke steep and rocky and start nearly at sea level. Short hikes for you thru-hikers but a real challenge for a novice for sure. Great to see these videos on here.

[@akwild1]

Congratulations on your commitment to staying active in the outdoors. Very impressive! Thanks for the compliment.

[@sross148]

I’m 56 and need memorize these! Thanks

[@akwild1]

56? So young... Thanks for watching and your comments.

[@denisebrown2940]

Great video. Thank you.

[@akwild1]

Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching, Denise.

[@FORKorBIKE]

That's work! How is hiking like a maniac relaxing? 😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@akwild1]

We are a twisted bunch, I have to agree.

[@ironpig701]

Very helpful. The folks at Outdoor Vitals did a great video on taking shorter breaks as you suggested. I find shorter breaks to be more beneficial to longer ones. The biggest things I think hikers should recognize medical wise are the 2 extremes of body temperature. You should know difference between heat stress and heat stroke and then hypothermia and its stages. Not to fear monger but these 2 are dangerous and can kill you. And frankly Im in the older hiker category and just starting my adventures and these tips certainly help me. Thank you. I also like hiking in cooler weather as I find I can dress up to get warm but summer heat hiking well frankly you can only get so naked and at some point you cannot do anything to cool down.

[@akwild1]

Yes, great points about heat stress/heat stroke and the stages of hypothermia. So many more things to worry about as older hikers, but being in tune with your body helps. I appreciate your comments. I'm glad I've been able to create a little corner of the internet where older hikers can commiserate and share their woes, but also offer encouragement and advice to help keep this gray tsunami moving! Happy Trails!

[@daven.7685]

Very helpful! You mentioned altitude sickness. I experienced the beginnings of the more serious HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) on my first overnight in 35 years. Definitely not fun. I tend to forget what my body has gone through in 61 years when I am feeling good, and abruptly reminded when I am not!

[@akwild1]

Yikes. Glad you’re okay. That sounds harrowing. My body speaks to me much more regularly now that I’m older.

[@robertphillips93]

These are some of the best guidelines and specific suggestions I've seen -- for hikers of any age. One thing to guard against is injury going downhill -- and not just knee and ankle pain, but trip-enders. Of course you can usually count on good trail legs for protection, if you're very careful before that happy state is achieved. Or, practicing step-ups (and -downs) at home can be productive. Slowly shifting weight forward on one leg to a step at least a foot high until the knee straightens and reversing back down at half speed. Then the same on the other side. These are quite demanding if you don't cheat, and if they do get too easy you can always raise the height of the step or add weight! Also, since you mentioned plantar fasciaitis, it's worth looking into the relationship between pronation and ankle rigidity, which I learned largely goes away during pronation -- and that in turn encourages our poor little fascia to participate in propulsion, which of course it's not at all capable of for more than a step or two. It is very good, however, at stabilizing my morning shuffle with a very full cup of coffee in a darkened room to my morning perch!

[@akwild1]

Thank you. I agree with your comments about guarding against downhill injuries. I still prefer uphill to downhill for that reason. I also appreciate your insights into plantar fasciitis. I especially like the coffee part. All the best.

[@traceylasslett5514]

Excellent!!I have used some of your tips and there has been much improvement on the trail. Thank you! Trail on!🥾

[@akwild1]

Awesome. I’m glad I could help.

[@mtadams2009]

Good advice but I can tell you are a Western hiker. Twenty miles days on the East Coast never come easy and thirty mile days are done by less than one percent of East Coast hikers. West Coast hiking is almost like hiking on smooth path. This is the reason I am headed out to Colorado to hike the CT, switch backs and smooth trails. The east coast straight up and downs have become a bit much for me. Every time I run into a western hiker in the Whites or on the Long Trail they always tell me the same thing no matter their age, they can’t believe how hard the trails are. My concern going west is altitude, blazing sun, afternoon thunderstorms and long water hauls. Where did you go to get your first aid training? This is something I am interested in since I hike solo or with my dog. Thanks

[@akwild1]

Thank you. I also enjoy backpacking with our dog. I have a whole section in Coddiwomple II about hiking with Burn on the PCT, in case you're interested. I also talk about the heat, long waterless carries -- all those thing you mentioned. We are planning to backpack the CT this summer, too. I hear the trail is well maintained. I think there is only one short section that disallows dogs, and it's near the start and a detour is available. I guess I am more of a western hiker than an eastern hiker, although I would probably label myself more of a northern hiker. I live in Alaska. Most of the trails here are straight up, and then straight down, very steep. The PCT has a lot of climbing, and the trail is often not smooth especially through Yosemite. Plenty of blowdowns, elevation gains and rocky descents. One some days I was climbing upwards of 5000 feet. I received my first aid training through an organization near my home. I was on the EMS squad for a couple of years, but I need to re-certify and get back into the swing of things. Good luck preparing for the CT; maybe we'll see you on the trail!

[@mtadams2009]

@@akwild1 Thanks I will check it out. I am always trying to learn from others, especially when it comes to hiking with dogs. You are correct, there is a short section, section one that you can’t hike with your dog. If you ever get a chance hike in that Whites of NH or the Long Trial in Vermont. For example the Colorado trail is much longer and has much higher mountains but the Long Trial has almost as much vertical climbing in a much shorter distance. Many people think because the mountains are not as big the climbs must be short. Either way the Colorado trial will be a challenge for many reasons. The point I was trying to make I do plan on hitting 20 plus a day and often over that. That is never happening where I hike. For me it’s just way too physically demanding. I will check out your playlist. I will be heading to Colorado reward the end of August or early September. I am trying to avoid the brutal sun and heat. I have watched way too many videos and that seems to be an issue. Maybe I will see on the trial. I will have the 50 pound hound mix. Take care

[@lightwalker4558]

Very nice tips. Thank you! At 61 I section hike 2-3 weeks a year and train and diet for them. In addition to lightening my load I always plan my route with fewer miles and elevation on the first few days while my pack is heavy. Happy tails.😊

[@akwild1]

Great ideas. It seems like when you get older our bodies alert us to which practices work best. Happy Trails!

[@glenndorsey9068]

My advice to older backpackers is to take advantage of getting out on shorter trips. 2-4 day trips in the wilderness require much less planning, can be planned around good weather, and are easier on your family.

[@akwild1]

Thank you. That's exactly one of the points Maureen makes in the video, "An Older Backpacker Who Just Won't Quit." Taking small steps toward your goal do matter. Thank you for watching.

[@glenndorsey9068]

@@akwild1 But that’s my point. I’m a 75 year old backpacker in the Southern Appalachians and my goal is to keep going out on the wilderness trails with my dog once a month or so for years to come. That’s my backpacking goal. Why does there have to be a long thru hike in the picture. Your message of the long hike just doesn’t resonate with a lot of Senior hikers.

[@charliejg]

I've done lots of hiking since I entered my 60s, but no "long distance" stuff yet. The hurdle I haven't gotten over yet isn't the hiking, it's camping. I have sciatica problems and have been hesitant to attempt sleeping on the trail.

[@akwild1]

Thanks Charlie. Congrats on being an active hiker. I wonder if there is anyone with sciatica who watches this channel who might have some advice for you. I imagine a lot depends on the severity of your sciatica. My body can get pretty cranky on a backpacking trip, but through cold water treatment, Advil and the right sleep system it does okay.

[@sharingmyfun8804]

Here is what helped me. An evaluation at my local running clinic. The physical therapist analyze how we walk. They recommend exercises, stretches, and shoes. Be sure to take your trekking poles with you. Switching from a walking shoe to a running shoe helped my sciatica tremendously. We are all different, though. Test your sleep system for at least a week before you try it on trail. Everything is comfortable for a night or two. Don’t be embarrassed to stretch while you’re on trail. Your sciatic nerve will thank you. Make your first overnight an easy one 14:42 .

[@charliejg]

@@sharingmyfun8804 I've been wearing Altra shoes both for hiking and daily. I initially bought a pair of Olympus IVs. I love the big toe box.

[@akwild1]

Thank you for the great advice not only for folks with sciatica, but for all older hikers. Thank you!@@sharingmyfun8804

[@hoss4928]

Feet knocked me off trail for the third year in a row. Started at Canadian border Southbound this year due to snow down South. Last year's toe injury hadn't fully healed and although Podiatrist approved the trip, the toe quickly worsened. Had to turn-back to Stehekin and fly home where they amputated the toe. Fires blocked y'all, does it mean trying again next year?

[@akwild1]

Hoss, I'm so sorry to hear about your toe injury. You have more willpower and perseverance than any hiker I know. Fire did stop me from completing the last 30 miles -- again, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do. It seems a little vain to waste a plane flight just to hike the last 30 miles, but they certainly are gnawing at me. All the best, my friend.

[@hoss4928]

@@akwild1 - : )

[@HuangXingQing]

Did I hear you right? You didn't hike between 11 and 4? How did you stay busy during that time?

[@akwild1]

We followed that routine when the temps were very hot. We tried to Siesta in the shade by a river or lake where we could swim. We rested and then hiked hard during late afternoon and evening.

[@HuangXingQing]

My 'plan' for years is the same. With the additional zazen morning and evening.@@akwild1

[@jeffstone28]

So, uh, how old are you? I'm a 71 year old section hiker and have backpacked about 440 of the Appalachian Trail over the past 4 years.

[@akwild1]

I’m 63. Congrats that you’re still in the backpacking game. That’s inspiring. I’d like to keep long-distance hiking for as long as I can.

[@FORKorBIKE]

How does that serve a purpose?

[@wimahlers]

Tip Don't stretch your legs while ascending or, more important, while descending. Use your muscles to always have a slight angle on your knee joint. This is very heavy on and for your leg muscles. But, in my long distance walking, l never suffered any knee joint problem or even the slightest knee discomfort. Though it is hell on your leg muscles ... to start with ... until you are used to it, which takes soms time ... then it is a blessing. Note: I see many people with trekking poles fully stretching their legs while heavily leaning on their trekking poles to compensate during a descent. It hurts me just looking at that "technique". I walk without trekking poles. By choice. And lately by necessity because of a minor but permanent nerve damage in my right arm (consequence of a one time infection).

[@akwild1]

I like your point about bending your knees slightly. I understand your point about trekking poles, but they have saved me from twisting an ankle on many occasions. This summer I loosened the extension nuts so that if I exerted too much pressure on the poles they would go down, kind of like a shock absorber. Thanks for your comment. I appreciate it.

[@FORKorBIKE]

My Tip is to stay home and watch 😅😅

[@akwild1]

Backpacking is not a spectator sport, even though I appreciate you for watching.

[@Karen-dq8nw]

Burns, whether from the sun or a camp stove. Diarrhea, giardia, norovirus, ingrown toenail, dog bite.

[@akwild1]

Great additions. Thank you!