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This blog is written primarily for the older outdoor enthusiasts who have just started hiking or would like to begin, but hopefully will be enjoyed by all who love the special experiences one finds only on wilderness trails.
There is no intent to imply that we are experts, and our "tips" for clothing and equipment in future blogs simply represent our personal opinions on what "works" for us.
Our hiking often includes birdwatching (a passion), viewing wildflowers, observing wildlife, and landscape photography, in addition to the visual splendors encountered at every turn.
Although it's not uncommon to see older hikers on the trails, we're definitely in the minority. We've enjoyed the company of a few hikers in their 80's and, indeed, there are a number in their 70's who still lead group hikes for clubs in the Portland area.
It might be said these hiking oldsters have maintained their physical strength and health because they do hike. It's difficult for us to imagine another physical activity that affords such enjoyment and healthful benefits.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Neither Al nor I were "always" hikers. Originally, Al lived in parts of New York, Connecticut and Michigan where mountains were just high places on a flat plain. It wasn't until 1979 while driving with his brother through the Mt. Hood winter wilderness to Bend, Oregon, that he "knew this was where he had to live". He had that "sense of coming home to a new place". It wasn't however, until 1989 at age 55 that he moved to Oregon and began hiking.
As an athletic runner for 20 years in the Mid-west, which continued with his move to Oregon, it was an easy switch for him to become a serious hiker. His first hike was with the Mazamas hiking group to Table Mountain the the Columbia River gorge which, at that time, was a nine mile roundtrip,with 3500 feet elevation gain. Now, at age 72, he still can't be kept out of the mountains or off the trails.
"Not only is hiking as physically rewarding as running, but no where before in my life had I been so completely fulfilled in all my senses as "working out" in the forests. All the wonderful infusion of my senses in the wilderness seems even richer as I continue to hike through the years.
As a native Oregonian, raised among the towering evergreens an seemingly endless horizons of snow-glazed mountains, my call-to-the-wilds came quite naturally, although hiking was not a part of life until age 50.
After a bout with a physically debilitating health issue, I started from scratch walking around a local school athletic field, then began street jogging and, finally, to Forest Park, an urban showcase of 30 forested miles for runners, hikers and malingering strollers, all within the city limits of Portland. Although most of the trails are fairly flat, it's possible to get up to 1000 feet elevation gain by combining it with a secondary trails system that affords spectacular view of the city and surrounding volcanoes. Whoa!
Diligently, I walked the trails building strength and endurance until it became possible to join a group hike and begin the most rewarding adventures of a new life.
Al and I met on a group hike to Cast Lake on the slopes of Mt. Hood in 1993, and we now have over 600 hikes logged in our journal.
We both have a fascination with the beauty, magnificence and total perfection of natural areas that are almost in our backyard and yet a complete world away. Most of our trailheads are well within a two hour drive of Portland and many an hour or less. The serenity, solitude and total experience of being part of the natural landscape is quite overwhelming at times. We laugh about the level of endorphin activity that must be present after trekking four to six hours. It is evident to us, however, that nothing else we do in lift gives this kind of life; emotionally soothing and spiritually connected to our surroundings.
Next blog: "What's Out There"
There is no intent to imply that we are experts, and our "tips" for clothing and equipment in future blogs simply represent our personal opinions on what "works" for us.
Our hiking often includes birdwatching (a passion), viewing wildflowers, observing wildlife, and landscape photography, in addition to the visual splendors encountered at every turn.
Although it's not uncommon to see older hikers on the trails, we're definitely in the minority. We've enjoyed the company of a few hikers in their 80's and, indeed, there are a number in their 70's who still lead group hikes for clubs in the Portland area.
It might be said these hiking oldsters have maintained their physical strength and health because they do hike. It's difficult for us to imagine another physical activity that affords such enjoyment and healthful benefits.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Neither Al nor I were "always" hikers. Originally, Al lived in parts of New York, Connecticut and Michigan where mountains were just high places on a flat plain. It wasn't until 1979 while driving with his brother through the Mt. Hood winter wilderness to Bend, Oregon, that he "knew this was where he had to live". He had that "sense of coming home to a new place". It wasn't however, until 1989 at age 55 that he moved to Oregon and began hiking.
As an athletic runner for 20 years in the Mid-west, which continued with his move to Oregon, it was an easy switch for him to become a serious hiker. His first hike was with the Mazamas hiking group to Table Mountain the the Columbia River gorge which, at that time, was a nine mile roundtrip,with 3500 feet elevation gain. Now, at age 72, he still can't be kept out of the mountains or off the trails.
"Not only is hiking as physically rewarding as running, but no where before in my life had I been so completely fulfilled in all my senses as "working out" in the forests. All the wonderful infusion of my senses in the wilderness seems even richer as I continue to hike through the years.
As a native Oregonian, raised among the towering evergreens an seemingly endless horizons of snow-glazed mountains, my call-to-the-wilds came quite naturally, although hiking was not a part of life until age 50.
After a bout with a physically debilitating health issue, I started from scratch walking around a local school athletic field, then began street jogging and, finally, to Forest Park, an urban showcase of 30 forested miles for runners, hikers and malingering strollers, all within the city limits of Portland. Although most of the trails are fairly flat, it's possible to get up to 1000 feet elevation gain by combining it with a secondary trails system that affords spectacular view of the city and surrounding volcanoes. Whoa!
Diligently, I walked the trails building strength and endurance until it became possible to join a group hike and begin the most rewarding adventures of a new life.
Al and I met on a group hike to Cast Lake on the slopes of Mt. Hood in 1993, and we now have over 600 hikes logged in our journal.
We both have a fascination with the beauty, magnificence and total perfection of natural areas that are almost in our backyard and yet a complete world away. Most of our trailheads are well within a two hour drive of Portland and many an hour or less. The serenity, solitude and total experience of being part of the natural landscape is quite overwhelming at times. We laugh about the level of endorphin activity that must be present after trekking four to six hours. It is evident to us, however, that nothing else we do in lift gives this kind of life; emotionally soothing and spiritually connected to our surroundings.
Next blog: "What's Out There"
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