Elder Hikers:
We've Earned The Title, Now Let's Rock It!

By Diane Spicer

Elder hikers?

When I first saw this label, I thought:

"Come on. Just say it. Senior citizens tottering down a trail."

Then I burst out laughing!

Why?

Because I got my AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) invitation in the mail several (as in double digits) years ago.

They send those invites to any American over the age of fifty.

So by definition, I AM an elder, one who happens to be a hiker!

What is it that I love about being an elder hiker?

I love the fact that I'm still hiking, but there's also a lot to be proud of as an elder hiker.

I'm proud of being an older mature female hiker, an elder on the trail.

Proud of all this:

• The strength in my legs as I eat up the miles
  
• The spring in my step as I make my way up a mountain side or along a meandering stream
  
• The wisdom I carry from all of the years of trail time
  
• The endless enthusiasm in my heart for all things outdoors and wild
• The decision to hike at my own pace, in my own way, each and every hike
  

It took a long time to get to this point, and now I'm savoring it.

• Read more about my philosophy toward being an older hiker.

Make a careful distinction between elderly and elder

Don't let the media, social or otherwise, define what growing older means.

Reject the ugly stereotypes of "the elderly" as weak, dimwitted, forgetful, faded old fools.

Keep your body and mind as strong as possible, and gather your wisdom to pass along as a hiking elder.

Because an elder is someone who deserves respect for the years of living that accrued the wisdom.

Elder hikers have deep stores of outdoor knowledge.

Elder hiking realities

But I'm also a realist.

I know exactly what it feels like to live in an aging body.

My lower back hurts the day after a long hike.

My feet sometimes give me signals that they're not particularly happy with the weight of my pack and the length of my hikes.

My feet swell up.

So do my hands.

I can always tell when I hit the double-digits on a hike: anything over 10 miles, and my knees begin to creak.

And you really don't want to hear about my chronically sore toes from enlarging feet as I age!

Hiking pain = reality.

Ugh.

So what can an older woman who hikes do?

PLENTY!!

Here's the short list of considerations any female hiker approaching, or over, the age of 50 years should ponder:

The effects of menopause on the body

Conversion of muscle into fat over time

Nutrition for menopausal hikers

Keeping bones strong

Self care tips

Osteoarthritis and female hikers

Gender neutral elder hiking topics

These topics can be shared by both genders of mature hiker:

Post-hiking aches & pains: what to do?

Healthy teas for hikers

Injury prevention

Back pain relief

Coping with sore knees

Swollen hands after a hike

Consider wearing compression socks

Fixing toe troubles

Avoiding falls on a hike

Gear evaluation

Time to lighten up your pack?

Conditioning to maintain top trail form

Hiking for weight loss

Finding accessible hiking trails

Putting together the best sleep system

Hiking with glasses

But there's a whole lot more for you here at Hiking For Her.

• This site map will get you up to speed on lots of other trail issues that may be impacting your trail time.
• Use the word TOP over on the right to get to the search box at the top of each page and use your own search terms to explore this website. It's all free, written by en elder hiker (me).

An elder hiker perk:
Make the most of the benefit of turning 62

Do you have your lifetime National Park Pass yet?

• Read why it's a great deal

The price keeps creeping up, so lock in yours now.

Be proactive as an elder hiker

In the mood to take preventative action to keep yourself limber?

• Read Bob Anderson's book on stretching for those of us over 50, and make time every day to keep your muscles limber.

It will really pay off on the trail!

Taking a Tai chi or Pilates class also pays dividends in flexibility and core strength, and there are low cost beginner classes available at your local community recreational center.

Ditto for yoga classes.

You use see my tips for yoga and hiking, too.

Tips:

• The best on line yoga teacher I've found is this one, with fantastic YouTube videos: Adriene Mishler.
• Search her stuff for the gentle yoga sequences that target a sore back, tight leg muscles, or whatever is bothering you.
  

Protest media age-ism

Let's band together to fight the corporate image of an older hiker.

Or the lack thereof.

If you take 5 minutes to flip through one of the admittedly scarce hiking magazines, or scroll through outdoor gear websites, you'll notice a theme:

• No one is under the age of (what looks to me, maybe I'm wrong) 25.
• Not a gray hair, smile crease or extra pound of body weight to be seen.
  

How can this be??

Mature hikers are ignored, despite the facts:

• We have disposable income and some time on our hands when we "retire" from the rat race.
• We have a strong desire to work through our hiking bucket lists.
• We're focused and level headed planners.
• We know the value of high quality, high performance gear and clothing.
• We have conquered many challenges in life, one of the many traits of a strong hiker.
  

Are you with me?

I propose that we contact these advertisers and gear companies to remind them that we're out there on the trails - and that we are purchasing their products.

Support companies that don't portray elder hikers as invisible, nonexistent or over the hill. In other words, if you see a gray haired backpacker in one of their ads, buy something!

I've written my share of letters to gear reps, editors and bloggers, letting them know that I don't appreciate being ignored.

• And I've suggested better clothing and gear options for older hikers, too.
  

Care to join me?

It's fun to be an old curmudgeon ;)

Don't be intimidated!

Ignore the media messages that say hiking is only for svelte twenty somethings.

• If you can walk, you can hike.
• Your body is designed for the movement of walking, and if you maintain mobility you should be able to hike throughout your life time.
  

And ignore all of the media messages that say only the elite hikers are worthy of time and attention, including:

• long trail thruhikers on trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail
• fast-and-light record setters (FKT, fastest known time) who try to outdo each other in terms of covering the most ground quickly (and don't really see anything along the way)
• stories about hiking in destinations that you will never visit, with glossy photos of the equipment and death defying routes up mountainsides, through jungles, or across deserts for days on end
  

Then vow to get out there and proudly claim the title of elder hiker, even if you're not as nimble, flexible or motivated as you once were.

You're a hiker, even if you don't cover 20 miles a day with 15 pounds on your back and one granola bar in your pocket!

Says who?

Says me!

Tell the scoffers that Hiking For Her says so!

The power of elder hikers

Ever hear of Great Old Broads For Wilderness?

• Maybe you should check them out.

This national organization pulls together elders (and they use the word with pride!) to work on protecting public lands in the USA.

They have local "Broadbands" that you can become involved with, or start one of your own.

The fees are low, the camaraderie is immense.

• Guys can join too, as Brothers.

And here's a news flash:

Every time I'm off trail in the back country, it's always elder hikers I meet.

Seems like the silver foxes know the best routes!

Are you surprised?

The media might be!

Whew!

Sorry about that rant.

Sometimes feeling invisible sets me off.

• Or trying to find a hiking hat that isn't covered in perky little dots and pink daisies that would make a woman my age want to howl.
  

Can you relate?

Let me leave you with this calm, peaceful thought:

Celebrate your strength, wisdom,and accomplishments!

But take good care of your assets so you can hike in your golden years.

The links above will help you accomplish that.

And you can add the pins below to your Pinterest boards to make it easy to return to these elder hikers tips!

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Elder Hikers