As a 66 yr old hiker and wanna be solo backpacker - you have truly been an inspiration. Best wishes to you through your upcoming surgery, Rev. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks. Hopefully after surgery (which went well) and recovery, I’ll be able to be back out on the trail. I’ve got some great plans for next backpacking season.
I too wound up having heart issues. I didn’t have a heart attack but I did end up having a triple bypass. It was during my recovery that I decided to go back to doing what I love to do, backpacking. I had not been backpacking since the early 1990’s. This happened in April of 2021. I’m planning my first ever thru hike this fall. Life is what we make of it. What could have been a killer of life turned out to be a life changer. Thank you for all the great video’s. I’m praying all goes well for you.
Rev, It sure seems that you have been blessed many times through life - ministry(s), wife, family, friends, hiking, backpacking, running out of steam on a 4 mile out-and-back trek, etc. We all pray for your successful procedure and speedy recovery.
Your story is inspirational. In January 2023 I was taken by ambulance after a heart attack to place a stent in an artery that the doc said was 99.9% blocked. It was a life-or-death situation, but I am fine now and in May 2023 I set foot in Hawaii Volcanoes, Haleakala, and the National Park of American Samoa to complete my bucket list of seeing all 63 US national parks. God is good-- all the time! May He continue to bless you with adventures in His amazing creation.
My Prayers are with you Rev. Like many of your subscribers I am your age. Our lifestyles are similar and as I grow older I realize how important it is for me to spend time on the trail. Your positive attitude truly inspires me. I seize every day that I'm hiking/backpacking. This is a WONDERFUL video. I cannot thank you enough for sharing. I am certain you have thousands of trail miles ahead of you. God bless and Hike On.
Glad to hear you are recovering, Rev. Im just a bit older than you are with 4 TIAs under my belt and I know how stamina becomes a real worry. Sending good wishes. "If we live we are the Lord's and if we die, we are the Lord's. So whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." This is good to know!
Michael, please make sure you keep the Class of 71 updated on your upcoming surgery! It was great seeing you at the reunion last April and we want to see you at the birthday party next year !! Sending you good thoughts and lots of positive energy! Mary J.
As a ‘hiking rev’ myself (retired pastor from Seattle who hikes almost daily in the summer and skis daily in the winter), I’m on your team!! Prayers for your healing, and I’d love to send you a book I write about hiking through the Alps 8 years ago, from Italy to Germany, called “The Map is not the Journey” - I’m just trying to find a way to reach you!! All the best friend!
I will be praying for you. I am 83 and hike up Kennesaw Mountain 3 times a week and just had 4 stints in arteries leading to my heart. I in the past have done a lot of backpacking as you have and that also probably saved my life. Good luck and God bless you.
Hey Rev, what an inspiration you are. I just climbed Mt Katahdin at age 67. Inwardly I wonder how long I can keep this up. I draw a lotta confidence from your videos and hope we have many years of hiking ahead of us. Take good care and I'll see you on the trail
You encourage me as I have a family history of heart disease as well. While taking a break from PCT visiting son I had an incident of A-fib serious enough to be hospitalized. It destroyed my confidence in my physical body and they took months to do a stress test and clear me to hike again. Now I have to get back in shape and convince my family I am okay enough to hike alone or at least with another person. I am hoping to return to the trail next year and give it another go.
Praying for you Rev and hoping for a speedy recovery. You have been my inspiration to start my PCT hike hopefully when I retire at age 62. Hope to see you on the trail someday! God Bless!
You and I share a similar story. I’ve never been a long distance hiker but rather one that covers maybe 5 - 7 miles a day. Fortunately I live in an area where this is easy to accomplish. In July, I was on the North Country Trail in the Allegheny National Forest. It was then I knew there was a problem. I began seeking medical treatment but was getting nowhere with our local healthcare providers. Well, on September 24, 2023, I had a heart attack. Now, one blockage and one stent later I am back at it at 62 years of age. Only 3 weeks after the placing of the stent, I went solo on a 17 mile two nighter. My wife wasn’t too thrilled about it but I approached it cautiously and had no problems. I’m still not a high mileage guy but those few miles are better than no miles. Thanks for sharing your experience. You are an inspiration indeed.
I had a triple A repaired 5 years ago now and feel as healthy as before. Hike many times in a week and bike over 1000 miles a year mine was the size of a pop can and extended up and beyond both braches going to the kidneys as well. A special stint was ordered from Australia and the surgery went well and I was back out and about in a couple weeks. All this was done 5 years ago and I'm now 73 years old. The best thing you could do for your health.
Thanks for explaining this, Rev, it's amazing you were able to return from your heart attack so quickly and now this aortic issue. You've got this handled and I'll be here quietly watching when you're back.
Prayers for a quick and complete recovery. In 2018 I had a complete failure of my mitral valve. It was a genetic issue. Several chords had ruptured. I was sent to the Cleveland Clinic and they repaired my valve. In the process I learned I have zero blockages in my heart. No buildup at all. I was expecting bad news as heart disease runs in my family. I still exercise every day and hike as often as I can. And I thank the Lord for guiding the hands that cured me.
Hey Rev. Sorry to hear about the health problems. Glad yours still positive. I am an overweight 68 year old who had 4-way bypass 6 years ago, then started hiking again to lools weight & get in better shape. I started watching your videos & others & really appreciate the knowledge & inspiration. Thank you. I hiked much of the PCT this year, but had to drop out with back issues in Washington. Wouldn't change many things about my trip. Wonderful. Good Luck to you & looking forward to an update.
Good luck to sir on your upcoming surgery. It is humbling to do things to maintain health - hike, bike, exercise and eat healthy, and still be impacted by heath problems. However, it is much better to try to live a basically healthy life, as this can help to lessen, avoid, or at least postpone many issues. Unfortunately, we are not able to select our genetics so we need to do our best to care for ourselves. I am 67 and I realize that my clock is ticking down faster every day. ( Both of my parents died in their early 60s from health issues - stroke and cancer.) My mother's mother lived to 98, so we never know.
I had a similar experience. I finished the PCT in 2018 and in 2019 experienced ocassional shortness of breath. We were traveling around the East coast and I had attributed it to the humidity. Fortunately I eventually listened to my wife and we went to emergency at a hospital in Lake Placid, NY. They immediately sent me off to a bigger hospital in Plattsburgh, NY where within 3 hours and after an 80 mile ambulance ride I then possesed two stents that corrected two 99% blockages on my central heart arteries. The next morning I was released and I drove back to California. Not at all what I thought a heart attack was like. No pain before , during , or after. Love modern health science. Happy trails!
So sorry to hear about your health struggles Rev. You will be in my thoughts and my family prayers as you go through this procedure and recovery. You are such an inspiration to us all and I hope to see you down the trail soon.
My moms brother died from the same thing. He never knew it was an issue. This happens in 1977 and then my mom and her two siblings were tested for the issue. My moms sister and brother both had the issue and they both had the same procedure performed. They never had any issues after that. Last year I got checked for the same issue and tested fine. I am happy you got a warning, my uncle did not. It happened much like a heartache. My dad had a massive heart attack back in the 70s and they performed a triple bypass, he never had any issues with his heart. I am wishing you the best. Take care
Wow Rev, again quite the story! You are such an inspiration to me to always try to get back on the trail, even with health problems. Sending my very best wishes to you and hoping for a speedy recovery. I’d love to see you on the trail, but I’ll wave to you from across the pond.
Well! As you probably faintly recall, I hike too but in SC and NC. The Sierra Nevadas are coming late fall '22. And for me to now know that you presently have 3 stents, we are in the same "club" as I have 3 stents in my heart area as well! You will surpass me in a couple of weeks and in a way you'll leave me behind having more stents than me. But seriously, you will be in the best hands for your procedure with the best Physician watching over it all! Amen to that, Rev! Praying for you daily now. May God continue to bless you and those you touch with your heartfelt words of encouragement. We're all looking forward to you putting this surgery behind you. See you down the trail!
Thanks for sharing your story! I’ll be praying for your speedy recovery. I just finished the CT on 8/1 and often thought of your PCT journey. It was inspiring.
Hi Rev, I’m sorry that I just got to view this video. I truly hope that you are well and continue to hike moderately. My family doesn’t have a history of heart issues but unfortunately I smoked years back (2pkg/day) which I did develop asthma. I stopped smoking about 30+ yrs ago but the damage was done. I do carry an inhaler but only for emergencies. Since then, I do hike moderately to stay active. Rev, I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you continue to get stronger in the 2024. Bless you and Mrs. Rev🙏🫶
Rev - I've only just come to your chanel as I recover from a stroke. I'm 66 yrs of age and learning to walk again. You walking and back packing inspire me to push my rehab hard and get out on trails here in New Zealand. All the best for surgery and I wait with interest your rehab walking plans. Stay strong ( in the native New Zealand Maori language "Kia Kaha " stay strong ").
My Brother, in times of trouble we can be assured of the intervention of our amazing Father in Heaven. Whats more, its not down to us but down to His unfailing promise. Psalm 91 says this Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Hold on to this my friend. for God is for you and not against you. Blessings Dave
Got back into hiking/backpacking just before Covid. I have a similar "minor" problem that was noticed several years ago. Fortunately my doc has seen no growth, but it is on my mind occasionally. I'm 74 and other than slowing down a bit (one of your videos!) I'm doing fine. With the new medical procedures everything should work out fine! You'll be in my prayers. Us 'old guys' gotta stick together! All my best!👍
@@TheHikingRev Thank God for Medical advances!! My Grandmother had one at 89, back in the day, and her chances were 80% negative for surgery so she just lay in hospital and waited for the inevitable. Today's outcomes are much brighter!
Rev, Wow! Thank you for your update. Prayers arising for your smooth medical treatment and uneventful, smooth and complete recovery! Looking forward to your further videos and hearing your good news! All the best, Richard Curtis Japan
Thank you for taking the time to share your journey. Praying for a successful surgery and rapid recovery so you can return to the outdoors and continue to inspire so many of us !
Best wishes on your surgery, Rev. I'm tickled that you are worried about your hiking ability when going into a major surgery. I once had a major neck surgery, and it was sobering thing to hear the doc talking about the possible outcomes. Then I was hobbled for 13 years with ME/CFS and just returned to backpacking this year. A lesson I learned was that you can always make adjustments as long as you are not totally disabled or bed ridden. Good luck with your surgery and I'll look forward to seeing your next video.
Good day Rev' ! Without sounding like a copycat I too had a heart attack just last Tuesday. It was also the right coronary. So, I had a stent put in and they also did my left due to some narrowing in it. To say your video is encouraging would be an understatement. I tried hiking the PCT this past Spring but had to quit due to nausea after only one week. I suspect my heart was trying to tell me something. Similar to you my issues are definitely hereditary. Now that I am home I feel fine, albeit with a slightly reduced energy level. Nothing would please me more than to get back out on trail next spring but let's see what the winter brings. Thank you again for posting this video it has certainly helped improve my disposition. Stay safe and God bless.
Hey…I feel your pain. It took me several months to recover and get back to normal hiking. JUST BE PATIENT! Your energy and stamina will come back…eventually.
I will be praying for your surgery and recovery. God bless you, and thank you for sharing your health issues. I attribute my generally good health to my yearly Appalachian Trail section hikes, which have been getting longer as I get older. Last year I hiked 275 miles, and this year, 220 before I fell and hurt my shoulder, 42 miles short of completing the AT. I will finish the remaining miles in October, down in Virginia. I'm 69. It's taken me 40 years.
Oh Rev... My heart goes out to you. My husband had the exact same AAA. His was actually an accidental find. When it reached 2.4" he had the surgery done. All went well. He woke up, gave the nurses all their days. (Unlike you he lived a life of smoking, some drinking, a bad diet and a very high stress job in Afghanistan.), but he's out and about doing what he does best... Living life to the absolute fullest. I have absolute faith that you'll be doing the CDT next. (crossing fingers & #HikersDreams...🤞😇😊) All the best, you'll ACE this challenge!
Hi Rev, I am a 70-year-old hiker who was told I had blockages in the smaller vessels in my heart that were causing me exhaustion during hilly tracts. The cardiologist told me my body had grown some new vessels that bypassed the blocked ones. I informed the doctor that it was God's hand that did it, not this old body. My vessels were too small to install stints. The cardiologist said to take the nitroglycerine tablets he gave me when I hike the Foothills Trail next month (77-mile hike) and if possible the AT in late March (2023). Of course, I'll be sick as a dog to ever take one of the tablets I am praying for your health daily and I hope you are able to safely keep hiking.
Ya know Rev there's so much quality TV programming these days I don't know why you wouldn't be happy just kickin back on the couch and enjoying life..... OH MAN! just about vomited in my mouth after sayin that! You're a total inspiration and living out your days as I hope to be able to in the near to far out future of my life. Take care of yourself and look forward to seeing what's next for you.
I know this is a year old and you are well past the AAA surgery so I hope things went well on that front. My dad had one when he was in his late 60's and he had to have emergency surgery as his was at the danger point. But the doctor said his was caused by his heavy smoking habit. That is the leading cause but also contributing is over 65 white males plus heredity. All that being said, you have renewed my drive to get out this year for my first backpacking trip on the AT at age 70. You and hikers like Grandma Gatewood and Nimblewill Nomad are my inspiration. Happy Trails!
Thanks. My cardiologist said that my heart and vascular issues were strictly hereditary. Neither diet or lifestyle had anything to do with the problems. As long as you’re in good physical shape…go for it.😁
Just discovered your channel. Am no a hiker. I'm a disabled (100%) veteran. In a wheelchair anytime I'm outside the house. But I am a pray - er. So I definitely will be praying four complete and total healing and your returning to the life outside that you love. God go with you.
Hey Judith. First of all let me say thank you for your service to our country. You have my utmost admiration. I realize that some people cannot do what I can do. Hence, the purpose of my RU-vid channel… to hike vicariously through me. Thank you for your prayers.
God Bless Rev & wishing you a speedy recovery…my brother who is very overweight & out of shape was life flighted to Cleveland Clinic with AAA about to burst & had the full blown surgery which replaced a section of his aorta. You will do just fine thanks to your active lifestyle…completing the PCT at your age is a huge accomplishment & that same strength & resolve will see you through these times. Take your time, relax for a bit & reflect on all of the amazing accomplishments & memories you’ve created for yourself & see ya on the trail again soon
I, too, have heart disease and, sadly, so many other health issues that has put my hiking and camping days behind me. I tried so hard to fight against it but I just can't do it any longer. But finding your channel has been so fun, vicariously as it may be. So, please, do what you must, be a good patient and get your butt back out there...for all of us, ok?❤
One of my best friends had the same procedure done. All went well and he is back to hiking and kayaking and feeling fine. I hope yours is just as successful!
,Hi Rev hope you are feeling well after all your health problems.Its been wonderful looking and listening to you.I don't do much hiking myself now but I love looking and listening to hiking videos.I suppose I can hike along with the person involved.You have been a great inspiration to me especially seeing how positive a person you are.I have had a few problems myself in the last year and I struggle with the mental side more than the physical.Listening to you speak has inspired me so much.Bless you and may God give you the strength to hike for many years to come. Peter. ( Ireland)
Thank you Peter. I’ve often said that hiking is more mental than it is physical. As long as I can put one foot in front of the other, you can come hike with me anytime.
5 weeks ago I had a surgery on Aortic Dissection, and very very luckily I survived and had a chance of near-full recovery! After regaining my spirit and endurance, I think of your video on heart attack and reviewed that as well as seeing this. Obviouly you recovers well from the aneurysm since there are quite a few recent videos you posted! It's very inspiring to me too! Best wish.
Thank you so much Broomhandle. I don’t think that my situation was as life-threatening as yours. Just be patient and you will be back doing the things that you enjoy doing.😁👍❤️
Sending prayers for a successful surgery and speedy healing so you can continue live your best life doing what you love. Blessings to you kind and compassionate gentleman.
All the best to you in regard to the stint surgery, etc. Like you, I'm glad to know, provided that all goes well, you'll be able to continue your active lifestyle in the back country. I'm going on 69 years old, and I continue to do a good deal of backpacking, and I want to continue doing that as long as I am able. So I empathize with you, my friend. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers! You'll be back at it before you know it! Happy trails!
Just got out of the back country and saw your latest video . My prayers go out to you for the coming surgery and a quick recovery. Videos like this are important to those of us who have issues but with the concurrence of our cardiologists keep doing what we love. Blood thinners for me are worrisome since I usually go solo. Were there any concerns expressed by your cardiologist about taking blood thinners and being in the back country where help may not be immediately available. All the best.
Thanks for the reply. I carry a coagulating wound dressing and since taking a fall in the scree a month ago i took it as a wakeup call and now stay very aware of my foot placement.
We so appreciate your channel and all your super helpful advice. We’ll be thinking of you and your family, and hope that everything goes successfully with your upcoming surgery so that you can get back to doing what you love ASAP!
First of all, my prayers are certainly with you. I happened to be looking for information on hiking about a week ago and one of your videos caught my attention. You are the inspiration that I had been looking for. I too have had a heart attack and like you have had stents inserted. The procedures and the cardiologist's team saved my life 11 years ago. Since then I have slowly been improving my health, but it took quite a while to recover my stamina and "get up and go". Walking and riding my Catrike 559 has been great, but hiking the AT has become my goal. Your advice and knowledge transfer has been important to set me on a path to make that goal. Hiking the AT at 70 years is where I am headed which gives me a year and a half to get ready. I'll be watching for your updates and learning with ll of your videos in the interim. Best of luck !
Rev, I'm praying for your healing and for wisdom for you to make good decisions. May God keep his hand on your life and on the lives of your family members!.
Well, you look great! And my brother-in-law also had family history of heart problems and he has had 10 stints and each time he has one, he feels great afterwords. His energy level is very low and that's his way of knowing that he has another blockage so he goes to the doctor, gets another stint and is good to go. I questioned your diet in a previous post and glad you have a healthy diet. That means a lot but there's no fighting genes. But there is monitoring the effects and keeping on top of what's going on in your body. So glad the doctors gave you a clean slate when it comes to your continuing to hike too. Will follow and God bless.
Thank you Jerry. Yes, my cardiologist said that it was not my diet or my lifestyle but strictly my genes. That’s unbelievable about your brother-in-law…10 stents! He definitely has me beat with three.
I have been an ordained Baptist minister since 1976. After 41 years I retired from pastoring in 2017. I was given my trail name by a couple of brothers, whose names were James and John.
