Senior Hikers, Tighten Those Bootstraps

Hiking for seniors has become popular all over the country.  I know that we’re still in the middle of winter, but there’s no better time to enjoy a cup of coffee and dream about that next great hike.

There are several long hikes that challenge even the best fit hikers.  A son of friends back in Iowa was on the famed Appalachian Trail when he woke up one morning and found a rattlesnake coiled just above his head.  Darren was shocked but remained on the trail and finished his trek.

The Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the Appalachian Trail are the longest to tackle for any well prepared senior. So let’s check them out.  Each will require an enormous commitment of body and resources of time. Conquer all three and you will have hiked with your best hiking boots nearly 8,000 miles. All three combined are known as the “Triple Crown of Hiking.”

 The Pacific Crest Trail

There are suggestions for senior hikers who would like to take the Pacific Crest Trail hike that includes information on first aid, leaving no trace behind, fire information and water issues. The Pacific Crest Trail is a perfect outdoor playground for beginners and experts alike. From the south of California to the north of Washington, you can take short walks or walk the distance.

 The Continental Divide Trail

This Trail is a United States National Scenic Trail running 3,100 miles between Mexico and Canada. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) is one of the most significant trail systems in the world. Established by Congress in 1978. It traverses five states and connects countless communities along its spine.

Over the past 30 years it has gradually assumed a marked physical shape, and preserves and celebrates an opportunity for adventure and history with one of the most significant features on our planet. Check out the CDNST Society  that is a grassroots organization with about 250 members that love that trail.

Senior Bikers, Take Note

And senior bikers, you’ll discover that it’s the first nation-spanning fat tire route. This trail encompasses the best of the Rocky Mountain spine: alpine wilderness, undulant grasslands, scrub desert, solitude that frays the edges of your brain, and a sense of what the country would look like if wilderness were the rule, not the exception.

 The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known simply as the A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Trail is perhaps the most famous hiking trail in the world.

It is currently protected along more than 99 percent of its course by federal or state ownership of the land or by right-of-way. Annually, more than 4,000 volunteers help maintain the trail.

 So seniors, tighten up the bootstraps and get going…for a second cup of coffee if nothing else:)

Enjoy every step and every scenic view. jeb