What age are you in? POLL!

[Chris]

Very surprised there's no-one over 65 yet, or at least admitting to it. I walk with a few people in that age range, and they're tough!

Maybe a bit more inspiration for you Zane - my husband climbed up to Marion's 2 weeks before turning 80.
At the other end of the scale he took both his daughters to Cradle as small children, the second as a babe in arms. It worked for them. One became the first female NP ranger in Tas, and both have had a life-long love of bushwalking.

Hope you have a wonderful life of walking. I do wish I had started many years earlier. Only really started in my 30s, after 3 treks in Nepal. Dropped out for a few years, but am now loving being able to get back to it. My first 2 walks after the long break were with the Strollers, so many thanks to them.

[bushwalker zane]

Maybe a bit more inspiration for you Zane - my husband climbed up to Marion's 2 weeks before turning 80.
At the other end of the scale he took both his daughters to Cradle as small children, the second as a babe in arms. It worked for them. One became the first female NP ranger in Tas, and both have had a life-long love of bushwalking.

Hope you have a wonderful life of walking. I do wish I had started many years earlier. Only really started in my 30s, after 3 treks in Nepal. Dropped out for a few years, but am now loving being able to get back to it. My first 2 walks after the long break were with the Strollers, so many thanks to them.

There are so many inspirational people here, thank you for sharing your stories!

[Explorer_Sam]

Okay, thanks for the great advice, I'll remember that when I look for a job one day

[walktillyoudrop]

I've just joined the forum and wondered about the demographics. I'm 55 tomorrow and also wish I'd started years earlier. We (my husband is 10 years my senior, although he hates that word - "senior"!) and we hiked the Inca Trail and Colca Canyon in Peru, part of the W- Trek in Torres del Paine, Chile and the Overland Track last year. This year we've had some great hikes in the Rockies in Canada & the US. The advantage of being this age is the time availabe to get out and enjoy without so many restrictions of the 9 to 5 routine, but the body is letting me know it's not 20 any more!

[bushwalker zane]

Hey WTYD, welcome to the forum! I think it is never too late to start something, and it sure does sound like you two have some great walks under your belt anyway!

Happy birthday for tomorrow!

[walktillyoudrop]

Hey WTYD, welcome to the forum! I think it is never too late to start something, and it sure does sound like you two have some great walks under your belt anyway!

Happy birthday for tomorrow!

Thanks Zane. It's started off well - a tandem skydiving voucher and a concert ticket!

[bushwalker zane]

Wow! Nice work on that! Sounds like you'll have a hoot!

[seagullhike]

I'm 22, I started getting into hiking, climbing and kayaking when I was about 19. Since then I'm all about traveling overseas and getting on the trail as much as poss. I like working but it's only to fund my hikes and travels, i'm having to much fun to worry about a career right now. Maybe 10 years down the line when my legs are gone.

Happy belated birthday any way.

[bushwalker zane]

I'm 22, I started getting into hiking, climbing and kayaking when I was about 19. Since then I'm all about traveling overseas and getting on the trail as much as poss. I like working but it's only to fund my hikes and travels, i'm having to much fun to worry about a career right now. Maybe 10 years down the line when my legs are gone.

Happy belated birthday any way.

That's the best way to live IMO

Where have you walked, Gull?

[walktillyoudrop]

I'm 22, I started getting into hiking, climbing and kayaking when I was about 19. Since then I'm all about traveling overseas and getting on the trail as much as poss. I like working but it's only to fund my hikes and travels, i'm having to much fun to worry about a career right now. Maybe 10 years down the line when my legs are gone.

Happy belated birthday any way.

Thank you seagullhike. What's with the "legs are gone" bit in 10 years??? You'll still be a young whippersnapper then!

[MartyGwynne]

Hey, as we all hope to have many more birthdays from now on its good to see a few young ones in amongst the crusty old hardened types who pop up in the bush all over the place.
I am only 50 and look forward to being able to walk the OLT when I am in my 70's (oldest one I have met there was 78).
I mostly only walk by myself now as I am unable to get away on weekends.
I am glad there are people starting out from a young age as that means more gear will be needed which means more new stuff in shops for me to purchase which means I can continue being a gear junky.....

Enjoy walking in the Bush you young folk.
Marty

[bushwalker zane]

Mmmm.... Gear!

[flyfisher]

OK OK I'll own up, not far short of 67 and walk mostly with the same bunch as Corvus. (the Strollers)

Age isn't so much a factor if you keep reasonably fit, but things such as bad knees, gout and so on have a far more limiting effect.

Hopefully I've got a few more strolls left yet.

FF

[bushwalker zane]

Looking after your knees is very important! I hope mine won't give up on me for many years to come

[Taurë-rana]

I remember exploring the streams and farmland by myself where we lived in England until I was 7 and came out here, then lived in Taroona where there was bush behind us which I spent most of my spare time exploring - caves, cliffs, creeks, old hut floors, all sorts of exciting things (no mobile phones, PLB's or whatever then but parents didn't seem to worry as much) until I finally went "properly" bushwalking in high school. Then did lots of bushwalking until I got married. Didn't for a long time after that, and all I can say about that is that if you have a passion for bush walking, you need to follow it, and somehow persuade your partner of how important it is to you!!

I started bushwalking again a few years ago, and hope to keep walking for a long time to come. It hurts more now though after too many squash and Futsal injuries, knees are the main problem but walking poles help lots. I went on a walk last week with a large group of women and I was probably one of the youngest there at 46, and I have several friends in their 50's who are keen to start walking as well, so perhaps now it is older people who are realising the value of being in the bush. When I was walking in my late teens and early twenties it was with friends the same age, after we'd learnt the skills from some older people.

[Mountain Rocket]

Still fitting into the 16-20 age group at the moment. It is quite strange to realise that, as I struggle to identify with most sixteen year olds. Kids these days huh?

[bushwalker zane]

Still fitting into the 16-20 age group at the moment. It is quite strange to realise that, as I struggle to identify with most sixteen year olds. Kids these days huh?

Hehe, I fit into that slot too. I should have put us 20 year olds in with a more mature age group

[Mountain Rocket]

I should have put us 20 year olds in with a more mature age group

Natrally! I must be honest though, I am still nipping at the heels of twenty. Give it a few months.

[bushwalker zane]

Natrally! I must be honest though, I am still nipping at the heels of twenty. Give it a few months.

Ah very well, as long as you were born in '92 Fantastic year, in my opinion!

[RSD]

After Sunday's slog up to Paddy's Lake I figure I'm not too old for this stuff, but maybe a bit slower than some