How to Thru-hike Over 60 Years Old 

I celebrated my 60 year birthday on PCT thru hike 2023. That was not only my first thru hike, but also my first backpacking, first time slept on ground in a tent was in Campo, CA, the south terminius of PCT.

We need more videos of hiking people over 60 . Thank you for sharing this

Wow, thanks for sharing! I am 62 and will be trying to hike the entire PCT this year. I needed your reinforcement on hiking slower taking your time and focusing on dropping pack weight. Part of my training is taking shorter steps, and letting the young fast hikers pass me. In the past, I wanted to want to compete with everyone and that was something that I needed to stop doing. Last year I did 1170 miles on the PCT hopefully I will be lucky enough to do the entire PCT this year. I also pulled my permit at the surgeon's office when he wanted to schedule me for a full knee replacement. I told him I was like a car with a short 2 weeks prior I would have wanted to have surgery ASAP however after exercising and riding my bike I was getting stronger every day with less pain and I thought I had 2,650 miles left on the knee. You all are an inspiration showing that you can still get out in your 60s to 80s +. You all are awesome!

I’m glad this video appeared on my homepage. As a ‘sixty something’ preparing to hike a long trail in 2 years, this includes great information that I’ll put to good use on the AT or PCT. Thank you

Yes please do a What In My Pack gear video with this group

I love this feedback. I am 61 and scheduled to hike the AT this year. The recommendations are very helpful.

love this much needed . im 67

Inspiration ❤

So nice to listen to this. I’ve been thinking I was to weak to hike because when I hike with my kids I struggle to keep up with them. I need to start slower and build up. I’m always telling my son, this looks like a good place to take a nap. We hike sections of the AT. Totally love being out there. I have likened it to giving birth. I forget, every time I get out there, how hard it for the first couple of days ~ get home and miss the trail and tell my self it wasn’t so bad, I can do it again! 🥾

Impressive and inspirational, thanks!

This is amazing. So glad I found you all!!

Very interesting video. All of the hikers in the video have the God given health to do these hikes and are either single or have the support of a spouse to spend large amounts of time away from home. My background includes running, biking and hiking. I started running in my early 30’s which included 25 marathons and half as many half marathons. I did a self contained bike ride across the US from Seattle Wash to Bar Harbor Maine. I hiked the AT in 2005 at age 62 in 4 months. At age 80 my hiking days are over. I have gone back to running. I still run half marathons. Running offers me the opportunity to exercise at a high level with minimal time invested. My wife is of poor health and cannot be left alone for ,long periods of time. The people in this video have been truly blessed.

Inspiring! I so want to thru-hike the PCT but just in the last few months I seem to have developed arthritis in the ball of my big toe. I'm 61, I'm too young to stop hiking and running!

The advice given by the entire panel is truly helpful. In my 60s and relatively new to long-distance hiking, I can see how possible it is if I hike light at my own comfortable pace and allow my body to rest and recover when needed. I'd sure love a look inside those packs, too!

Spiritual experience 👍 Walking meditation 👍

I am 62 years old and the longest thru hike I have ever done was 138 miles on the Mojave Road in eight days. Been watching a lot of PCT Y-Tube videos and am considering doing the first part that covers the Desert from Campo to Kenndy Meadows; the start of the High Sierras. Since I am not retired yet. I figure this can be down in three two-week hikes.

Amazing!

I found this very helpful; thank you

Thank you all!

Nancyuses abbreviations for trails and shortened names which I have no idea where or what they are.

Me just registering for this demographic. 68. The Colonel

Sorry I can’t watch this.

Im sorry but when I pull up a video and you need to put up your pronouns and then go on with the liberal buzz words of "we build for inclusivity" Im sorry but its bad enough to have this in every day life but now gotta hear it in back packing. Look if you wanna hike then do so nobody is stopping you . Hows that for being inclusive.