AGE OF HIKERS - Appalachian Trail

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#1

i AM 53, BEEN HIKING FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND HAVE BECOME VERY INTERESTED IN HIKING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL. i DID A SMALL SMALL PORTION OF IT LAST YEAR IN THE SMOKYS. i AM SURE THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF AGE OF HIKERS BUT I DONT SEE TOO MANY OF MY AGE OR ANY THAT I CAN TELL ARE MY AGE. iS IT COMMON FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR 50’S TO HIKE THE AT? mY WORK AND COMMITMENTS WOULD PROBABLY KEEP ME FROM BEING A THRU HIKER BUT I WAS THINKING OF A MONTH AT A TIME OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS. wHAT ARE PEOPLE’S OPIONS OF THIS PLAN? john

uNDERTAKER

#2

I was that age when I thru-hiked. I expected to be the old man of the group. However, I did find a significant percentage of people to be in their 50’s and over. I’d estimate 30%. But that’s just a guess.

People thru-hike at a time when there is a major change in their life. For some, that’s right out of college. For others, it’s part of their mid life crisis. For many, it’s when they retire. In my case, it was an early retirement.

The 50 plus year old should not feel out of place at all.

Peaks

#3

In the group I hiked with in '92, there were two 60 year olds, 2 mid fifties, 2 early fifties, 2 late twenties and me, mid thirties. Yes, it is harder for mid-career folks to break out and go do a thruhike. Some decide that life is too uncertain to wait until retirement and go anyway. Others do what you plan to do, hike as section hikers. Some do both - section hike then do a thruhike when they are ready to retire. We have many friends who hiked the trail on the 5-10 or 20 year plan. One couple we knew hiked one week in the spring and one in the fall. They finished last year, after about 10 years of hiking the AT. If you can do longer stretches, it is much easier, because you have time to get into shape on the trail and have fewer times that you need to figure out rides and shuttles. One month a year and you can probably finish in 5-6 years or so.

Spirit Walker

#4

I started a Thru hike in March of 2000,had foot problems in the Smokies and got off the trail.I was 64 then and have been going back for section hikes.I’m now 67 and finished the section from Hot Springs NC to Bland Va this past April.I plan on continuing until I finish.
There was an article in a hiking mag about a retired dentist that started when he was 31.He could only do sections due to work commitments.He hiked sections over the years and finished when he was 81,50 years after he started.
It was interesting.He told of carrying a cast iron skillet, GI blanket and wearing jeans on his first section hike.
I’ll see if I can find the article, and post it for you.

Bill Harris

#5

Hi Undertaker, there are plenty of thru-hikers on the AT that are over the age of 50. If I were you I wouldn’t worry about age groups on the trail as I found all age groups mixed freely and got along very well together.

My estimates of the breakdown of the age groups that I came across on the AT were:
60% under age 30
10% between ages 30 and 50
30% over age 50

Downunda

#6

I just had my 50th birthday and am avidly planning a 2004 thru-hike. I’m sure I’m doing lots more exercise and training than a 20-something so I’m in shape when I start climbing up Springer Mountain. I’ve also become a weight fantatic–trying to keep my pack weight as low as possible so I can last 2000+ miles. I tend to hike a bit slower than the 20’s crowd due to some knee problems, but I definitely get there and enjoy every step of the way. Go for it! Annie

Annie K

#7

I’m 62 and started section hiking last fall. Currently I hike for 4 or 5 days at a time but am planning a 7 day hike next spring.

Vanilla Shake

#8

I was 50 on my first thru-hike attempt. I was surprised to
meet many ‘retired’ people hiking, particularly airline pilots.
They’re required to stay in shape for their job, but are
forced to retire at age 60 by FAA rules.

Alot of retirees quit, however. Some were overweight and
their knees gave out, etc. If you stay/get into decent shape
you should do OK.

Earl Shaffer last hiked 50 yrs after his groundbreaking thru-hike in 1948. I’m sure he was about 75 at the time.

I met a doctor and his wife, Lead Dog and Dakota, who were
in their early 60s. They were finishing the AT after 20 yrs
of section hikes. They were dogged in determination and
admirable hiking partners for a couple weeks.

Go for it!

Scamp

Scamp

#9

I hiked on the AT today and saw three other people hiking. We were all over age 50. Believe the breakdown given is correct. Young folks (20’s) about 30-45%, Middle aged (30’s to age 50) abut 10%, and over 50 crowd, about 30-45%. The young crowd tends to be a lot of highly motivated young folks (a good many college kids) looking for another challenge in life (something to conquer). The older crowd are generally successful people looking to do something they’ve never done and wish they could have and of course to stay in shape and keep their weight down. All the hikers I see are in fairly good shape, have good personalities, and are good all around people. I’ve never ran into an overweight, overbearing, bad attitude hiker (those sorts of people don’t hike). You meet some good people hiking the AT, it’s a nice place to be and it helps one keep their mental sanity as it gets you away from all of the BS of the world for a little while anyway, even though you know you have to come back to it (or most of us anyway). :cheers

Maintain

#10

Hi uNDERTAKER,
I’m a confirmed section hiker on the AT. I like doing long section hikes which have been so far: 200 miles, 301 miles, 450 miles, 400 miles and 388 miles. Benefits? You keep in shape year after year (perhaps motivated a little by fear of injury or humiliation?..). Also, there is a lot of wear and tear on the old body, but not an intolerable amount, and you have a whole year to recover before you do it to yourself again. I hope to finish the AT either next year or in 2005. I’m now 62 and started my section hiking when I was turning 56. I even retired (very!)early (in 1999) in order to keep up this great adventure after dipping my toe in with the 200-miler in 1997. I have enjoyed the whole thing very much, even though I am certainly the slowest walker by far of the long distance backpackers that I’ve met. The young thru-hikers are mostly very friendly (and perhaps even amazed that someone their grandmother’s age is backpacking at all!). The Trail is truly difficult for me since for some reason I really don’t have very good aerobic capacity. Nonetheless, I have a great time even tho I don’t participate all that much in the AT shelter life. I really prefer to set up my tarp in a scenic location and enjoy the sounds of the forest rather than the sounds of people. Even tho I seek and treasure solitude in the evening, every year I meet great people whose perspective on life has enriched mine very much.
So, whether you decide to challenge yourself with a thru-hike or section hikes, I think you will have a great time and will “hike your own hike.”
Two Hats

Two Hats

#11

overweight people do hike. as an overweight (and 40+ years old) section hiker who averages 12-15 miles/day, i know i speak for others when saying, “bad attitude” hiking can take on all forms, eg. stereotyping “overweight” people as incapable/unwilling to hike/exercise.

at2003

#12

Undertaker, On the AT age doesn’t matter very much. People in there 80s have completed the trail. You may not be able to do big miles but you can setle into a pace that suites your hike.
I did my thru when I was 66 years old. I met quite a few others who were around my age. We were all excepted as fellow thru-hikers without age being a factor.

Grampie

#13

I started section-hiking the A.T. when I was 44. Just finished it last month at age 52. Plenty of folks out there in that age range, plus all other ages.

During those eight years, I met a thru-hiker who was part of a family group who was only nine. Also met a guy over 80.

The largest age group seemed to be those in their early-to mid 20s, followed by hikers over 50. Not a whole lot of 30-somethings, tho, possibly owing to the commitments many in that age bracket have that would preclude long hikes.

“Skyline”

#14

I felt it necessary for me to reply to this thread since I am a Short Fat Bearded Old Man myself.

Attitude and determination is what will get you through most hikes, not your looks.

As a jogger, I’m constantly amazed at how many young athletic guys I’ll pass a few miles down the road and I’m sure they wonder how the heck that fat old man is beating them! :lol

Know your own limits and hike at your own pace. The “run your own race” principle is quite compatible with “hike your own hike”.

I’m 52, overweight, but enjoying my section hikes.

:happy

Too-Dang

#15

By the way, I’ve been following the journals of Brown Bess, you might find them interesting.

Too-Dang

#16

Is he still draggin’ the rifle with him?

Bushwhack

#17

I was 53 when I thru hiked the AT sin 1999. Started out way over weight, both my body and pack. Finished 5 months later very fit. One of the best aspects of thru hiking for me was that I never felt my age made any differance to the much younger hikers. They treated me as I did them, as hikers and that was real special to me. I will be starting the PCT in 04 at age 58 and not worried about the age part at all. As long as I can carry all my pills.

Waterboy 99

Waterboy 99

#18

I am 56 and feel great I am going to do the A/T march of 04. Maybe I will see you there

pops

#19

I’m one of those Old Dudes…will turn 55 next month. I retired in 2000 so I could do 100+ miles…found out that it’s more fun hiking your hike and taking your time to actually enjoy it…so I wnet back to work fulltime so I could buy neat equipment and rest up in motels before and after…last year on McAfees Knob I was amazed at the people who just went there and snapped their pictures and ran away…my son and I stayed there for hours and enjoyed the scenery. Now I don’t do much past 50 miles…did that much near NOC this past summer…just view it as a religious experience with lots of fun and neat people…and I’m also a tad overweight (5’11"-215)… and even on a 5 or 6 dayer the AT will get you in shape one way or another

Doc Holiday

#20

I am 13 and have been hiking Colorado fourteeners for two years.

Keegan