SummitPost.org

I know this has been discussed somewhere...age and climbing. I'm 56, just found this encouraging..
http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=18939
How old are you summitposters?

The Swiss guide Ulrich Inderbinen climbed the Matterhorn when he was 90
http://www.atkinsopht.com/mtn/indrbnen.htm

I believe that the famous Fred Beckey born on the 14th of January 1923 is still climbing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Beckey

Dean has added some thoughts about the subject along with the photos in this album:

http://www.summitpost.org/album/471285/ ... going.html

Here are some profiles of climbers in their 70s on John Gill's website:

http://www128.pair.com/r3d4k7/SeniorAthletes.html

Norman wrote:I know this has been discussed somewhere...age and climbing. I'm 56, just found this encouraging..
http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=18939
How old are you summitposters?

Nunya damned bizness.

I'll hike/mountaineer/ski until I can't read the damned topo anymore. And I hope I'm as crotchety and as big a pain in the arse as Fred when I'm his age.

Looks as if I'm headed in the right direction.

What interests me about this is how does one of these old guys stay in shape? At this age, it seems nothing is free. There's no strength left over from youth, you just have to exercise your butt off just to stay more or less where you are. If you had any bad joints, rock climbing would be no fun at all. Old injuries are acquired over time. So an active individual in a adrenalin sport for a long time, has picked up a real collection.

As far as Everest is concerned, there's so many issues involved, I find it difficult to imagine. Bladder management issues, compromised resistance to cold, possible sleep deprivation from spending a couple of months in a tent etc etc.

Current age is irrelevant. The title of an old Warren Zevon song sums it up best:

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

Age 50 was when I started to get more injuries in the tendons and joints of the arms and shoulders. The muscles are willing, but the pain and possible greater damage cause one to be circumspect about high-stress exercises.

Two years ago, I caught a large sandstone slab, to keep it from crashing on the people below. I stretched some of the connections in my right rotator cuff a bit too much. I kept on exercising after a 2 week hiatus, and over the next year, managed to reinjure the shoulder 5 times, each time convinced I was ready to push harder through the pain. Lesson learned: I'm not young. Injuries ignored now may last until the final curtain call.

"I like to think that time and age are cousins---they're relative. Who said you have to go by actual miles? If you didn't know how old you really were, how old would you be ???"

I believe the more active you stay in your old age, the longer you can live. your body loves exercise. My grandfather is a living example. I would encourage everyone to stick to what they love until they are physically unable to preform it.

My in-laws provide two good lessons. My mother-in-law was a professional dancer, when she hit her late 30's, she felt she could no longer move the way she liked so she quit. She is now 70+ and in fair shape, but now regrets having quit.
My father-in-law on the other hand works out everyday, swims, rides a bike and is now 80+ and still can hang out with my 8 year old. He had 2 significant surgeries and recovered well from both of them. I plan on working out and climbing until I can't drag my sorry a$$ up anything.

I did a bike race over Labor Day where a 77-year old man rode 181 miles in 12 hours.

So much for growing old and weak.

http://www.ultramidwest.net/UM/UM24/24Results09.aspx

Age is nothing but a number on your drivers license.

peterz wrote:Age is nothing but a number on your drivers license.

....or your Social Security check....

This guy is now 75 and hasn't slowed one bit.


He can hike 2000' vertical in an hour.