I quit drinking 20+ years ago. I lost my husband, my friends and my family because of my decision. My peers are retiring now and pickle ball, golf, drinking and bragging rights on social media make their top ten list. My list is much longer and includes none of the above. I would be considered a loner and I am more than ok with that description. Oh, the places I have been and as I prepare to leave on another adventure in a few days I have no regrets. Just me, my dog and the great outdoors. Only the curious have something to find. Walk on!
I second your "none of the above." I would take a hike in the woods or high country with my dog over anything in a bottle, or the activities you listed. It's amazing how your eyes open to beauty in the intricacies of nature when your mind is not in a fog. Thank you for watching and your comment.
My life after I quit drinking improved and I no longer feel controlled. My friends that say I’m not as much fun , were in truth never my friends. Thank you for your message
Thank you. That's kind of what I was trying to express. Some people think drinking wildly is a expression of freedom; I see it as a commitment to slavery, to chains.
My father grew up dirt poor in the hills northern PA. Lost his Dad when he was quite young and lost his Mom while he was in high school. Went in the Navy. Went to college on the GI bill and became an engineer. Worked for NASA and helped put on a man on the moon. When I asked him if he had gone to see Apollo 13 when it came out, he responded, "Why would I, I lived it". He also worked on the Space Shuttle until he retired. The thing is, he was kind of "forced" to retire. (Alcohol) I asked him what he was going to do in his retirement...he replied "nothing". He had been active his entire life and he loved the outdoors, but in the end, alcohol destroyed everything. He always told me that we all have to make and be responsible for our own choices. I saw what alcohol did to him. I made a choice in my 20's to pass and I am hoping to finish well. I'm glad you are finishing well and helping others to do the same. - Peace & Sparkling Paths
My sister worked on the shuttles too for a long time putting the tiles on them, My Uncle Charlie worked on the Saturn's and Mercury projects, My brother-in-law fueled the Saturn's and Mercury boosters I went and saw everyone of them go up until the shuttles and was standing in my plant nursery in the front yard watching the challenger go up and saw it explode, was driving and heard the Challenger go down. and was watching when the one that killed Griffin, White and Chaffe burned on the pad. My Dad was a Naval Aircraft Mechanic and areal reconnaissance photographer in WW2 . Memories of it all are still quite clear of the space Program and the Stories of my Dad live on as well. It is a nice connection and it is uppermost this weekend for sure.
Wow! You're dad accomplished a lot. I hope many will read your word and understand its lessons. Thank you for sharing this deeply personal story. We all need to run through the finish line, with no regrets. Happy Trails!
@@Feribrat99 Very cool. I am assuming you grew up/lived on the Space Coast. It was a great time and place to grow up. You mentioned Challenger... my Dad and many others that worked on it were never the same after that horrible day.
What a beautiful way you expressed your message about living your later years in peace, joy and clarity, without the haze of alcohol to dull our days! We must truly live until we die and not just quietly fade away. Thank you for sharing this!
Beautiful. The workd "alcohol" can be replaced by anything that traps you and keeps you from having your desired joyous life. As, I listened to your video a second time, I put the word of the thing that was trapping me. How wonderfully inspired it made me. Thank you.
You are in a good place! Happy for you! My wife and I made the decision to stop drinking when we married because we saw the damage it had done to both our families. This summer is our fortieth anniversary! We will gather to celebrate at the lake with our six kids and their families and we will have a fun and fulfilling time. I so grateful!
Thank you. Yes, once you see the damage alcohol causes, you start to see it as an enemy. As I wrote the essay for this video, I looked back and became angry over all the ways our society bolsters alcohol and celebrates and excuses its effects. It's pretty liberating to break away from the herd. Congrats on your most excellent decision and commitment. All the best.
Thank you, Laurie. That's an important message in the video, to re-think how the chains masquerading as freedom, are chains, afterall, that strangle us.
I'm grateful to be surrounded by friends and family who love and accept me whether I drink or not. We support each other in all our life decisions, we don't pressure each other to conform to a certain expectation, like having a drink. Some years ago, I brought a small flask of spirits with me on the JMT, thinking I'd celebrate with it. After a few days, I dumped it out - too much weight, and the celebration was there each and every day and didn't need a drink to make it special.
Thank you Karen. You are fortunate indeed to have good friends as you mentioned. I remember the JMT well. I can't think of anything external that could add or detract from the experience. Some magical sections in the JMT for sure.
it's funny you mention your friends. when I joined the PAGANS and started doing a bunch of drugs and drinking I lost most of my friends but gained new ones and when I left the club and got clean and then got sick with the cancer I lost the rest of them. I am happy to say that the friends I have now, like you, Ray, are the real friends I always wanted and that is a joy that can never come from a bottle or a little baggy full of poison Dwayne
Some of the Pagans used to rent a house down the street from mine in Florida when I was still in high school. A few were scary at times but several of them were not bad guys at all they just Laughed at us kids and razzed us for being gullible at times, LOL In the late 1960's and early 1970's. They were definitely different than many folks but not too wild at the time. about 10 of em were there at that time. They never offered us anything either, LOL. Not bad guys at all. Had some stories to tell though. They really had a bad rep a few years later though, doubt it was the same guys I had met.
Thanks Dwayne, the pics you sent me of your hike were beautiful, and much better than anything anyone could find through a bottle or a little baggie. I ran with some bad dudes too, back in the day. My biggest wish was that my kids not attempt 1 percent of the stupid stuff I tried. Thank God I survived.
Very well said! A true friend likes you for who you are not what you drink. Whether you drink or don't drink you cannot let alcohol (or any other vice) define who you are, who you want to be and how you wish to live your life. For me, I only wish I had embraced my love of hiking earlier in my life. As I near retirement I spend a significant portion of my day thinking of the next hike I wish to take, new areas I would like to explore and experience. While my hikes are short, day hikes and do not even come close to the level of trails you have taken, I find peace and happiness getting out into nature and putting one foot in front of the other. Be safe, be happy and keep on trekking (and sending us more great videos of course)!!!!
It's true for all of us: as we age, we find ourselves able to do less and less. However, I like your attitude. It's important to keep doing what you can with what you have. Flash, Burn and I are planning to hike the Colorado Trail this summer. Not as long as the PCT, but challenging enough for us. Happy Trails!
Wow what a great message! My higher power kept telling me to stop drinking in many ways. Two and a half years ago I finally listened and it was the best decision of my life. I agree with every word that you said. You don't realize how much of a prison that you are in until you get yourself out. Keep up the great work on your videos. Happy trails!
My, that was an interesting and wholly insightful essay. I quit alcohol about 3 or 4 years ago, after the loss of just one more marriage. A sadness to be sure that that's what it took to make me see the reality of the alcohol trap. I have been interested in the mountains all my life so I moved back to hiking as that is my 1st love.
Powerful story. You found something much better to fill the void. I had a sense others felt the way I did about alcohol. Thank you for your comment and Happy Trails.
Thanks Ray. I had my last drink 22 years ago following tge death of an older brother who attempted to drive home after a night of drinking. He left behind his wife and three beautiful little girls. It was incredibly tragic. I vowed then to not drink again. Thank you for your beautiful video.
Thank you Ben. I'm sorry to hear about your brother. I remember a Yupik Elder who said, "Alcohol never says 'I'm sorry.'" I'm glad you took an terrible event and turned it into a positive for your life. Take care, my friend.
Thanks Ray. It’s a long ago now but my brother’s passing had an indelible impact on my life and I chose to memorialise him by becoming a life-long non-drinker. The health benefits of not drinking have also been extremely valuable.
I made the same decision when facing hip surgery in 2022. I decided my body had enough work to do without alcohol in the mix. I still drink a beer here or there, but I do not miss it. I'm more active at 70 than I was at 50. Maybe I'm lucky in my friends, but a fair number have done the same and none have criticized me for my choice.
Wow! This is so beautiful and powerful! I just love it ❤ Making a simple choice can transform your life in ways you can't imagine. Like how the sun rises every day, but till you actually get out there and see it, you can not imagine how incredible an experience it is. Thank you for sharing your story and encouraging us wild people. Oh, and is that McCarthy Falls? It's one of my favorite places :)
So true! Thank you. That's Liberty Falls. In next week's video I'll also have a closing shot of the waterfall up Keystone Canyon on the way to Valdez. Thank you for watching and affirming the video's message.
Oh! Liberty Falls, that's right. On the way to McCarthy. I had the wrong name. Thanks for providing me the memory jog :) I'm looking forward to the Keystone Canyon shot. I have a series of faded photos of a waterfall there from a long time ago. I took them from bottom to top and put them together afterward since it's such a long one. I always loved to see the dramatic change in plants when driving southbound as you get close to Valdez. Thanks for making such great videos!
I am 60 years old. My children have their own lives and have not made me a part of it. My husband seems to have little to no interest in anything but resting in front of the tv and napping several times a day. His life is not for me! So, recently, I decided to change nearly everything about my life. That change includes camping and hiking. If I am unwanted, unneeded, undesirable...if no one wants me to live for them, then I must retrain my brain and learn how to live for myself! I am currently training my body to hike. My short term goals are to condition my body so that it is able to take me where I want to go. My long term goals are to climb to the heights and to "see with my own eyes the creations of Jesus!" I must find reason and a place, and so this is my start. I want to say that you are a great inspiration to me. You have shown me that I too can achieve great and mighty things, and enjoy what life has to offer! Thank you!
Thank you for your honest, transparent words. I'm honored that my channel has helped point you toward a more adventurous direction. I hope you fall in love with your walks, that they become an important part of your day and life, and that you reach the point where you can't live without wandering around a bit. I can't promise you all your camping trips will be wonderful, but what I can say, is when you have one wonderful day on the trail, when the light is right, when the sentiments are right, or the conversations are right, that will make up for all the hard days. You'll also notice a new, healthier group of people hanging around you, desiring to be a part of your adventures. Solvitur Ambulando and Happy Trails!
Thank you for the inspirational message. Something is wrong when your social connections are based on drinking alcohol. My only drug of choice now is caffeine via one or two cups of coffee per day. Thanks for the film and the beautiful photography.
This is the most beautiful and true video. I discovered wild camping when I began my alcohol free life almost 3 years ago and I totally agree with what you say. I hope your message inspires many other people too. Thank you.
Thank you. That's my wish. If people are really serious about maintaining an outdoors lifestyle as they get older, they should examine and contend with the habits in their lives which are holding them back. At least, that's what I think.
I quit drinking years ago and never really had an issue because I saw how easy it was to be in trouble since I have an addictive nature. Then I had kids and seldom had a drink even then, They do not drink hardly at all. A bottle of rum can die of old age in our house, we use it to flavor some baking on occasion.
My friends were much like yours for various reasons, I have no close friends right now but it is fine, since I will know one when I see them. It will not be an alcoholic illusion either. LOL.
Yes, I think I have that same nature. I tend to go all out in anything I do, and when alcohol is involved, that can be a terrible combination. When it comes to backpacking, having the go-for-it attitude is a good thing. I'm not that good at being moderate, which explains why I can never-ever drink.
I quit alcohol 4 years ago and don't miss a thing. My son(adult!) drinks, daily. I feel sorry for him but I've "said it all" and it's his road to walk and his choice to make.
It seems like you can never tell which road a son or daughter will take. However, hopefully, you'll be a model he'll try to emulate once he realizes the deceit and emptiness that surrounds alcohol use. Thank you for watching.
I am so glad you are free from the bondage of alcohol and the stronghold it had on your life! The freedom you are living now is so evident in all of the stories you document. Celebrating with you! Thanks for sharing with such transparency! I trust that your story will encourage others to let go of their addiction and enjoy all that life has to offer instead!
Thanks Maureen. I was happy to read the replies. I wanted to be transparent, as you said, because giving up habits is probably the best backpacking tip I can give to older hikers. There's a direct connection between my decision to quit alcohol and hike the PCT.
Thank you! Was especially struck by your observation about meeting and hiking with young people beats drinking/talking about glory days with the old folks.
Me too my friend. I see it as poison. Good for you. I tossed my last jug of crown royal into the Clark Fork river in Montana - 13 years ago. Your words mirror mine. Much respect
Thank you for this wonderful message and sharing your new life after letting go of alcohol. I would like to recommend a RU-vid video done by Jack McCarthy called "Drunks." I think you and your followers would appreciate this video. Also Jack McCarthy wrote a book of poetry "Drunks and other Poems" . Jack is no longer alive after a long, sober life filled with adventure and has inspired many at Spoken Word Open Mics across the country.
Another really inspirational, impactful video. An uplifting message delivered with eloquence, charm and some great visuals. I just re-watched "Codiwomple" at the weekend and it gave me so much pleasure, cheer and thoughtful ponderings. Superb videos, with poetic charisma, nice editing and some banging music! ❤
Wow, thank you! Sometimes that trip seems like a dream, and I can't believe we did it. I think about that hike every day as we get ready to hike the Colorado Trail this summer. I'm still the same: I'm not very happy about growing old and view long-distance backpacking trips as the best way to postpone the inevitable. Thank you for watching, again, and Happy Trails!
Thats amazing. Good for you. I have never understood the want. My ex husband is a drinker. I still couldn't see the appeal. That was really well done. Thanks for sharing. 😊
Thank you Cheryl. One of the tricks to overcoming alcohol is finding something much better to fill the void. I'd rather be on top of a mountain any day of the week. That's what motivates me now.
For a heavy drinker your story rings true, and a wonderful successful outcome. But for a real alcoholic, though not impossible, your wonderful outcome would be more improbable. You never mentioned Alcoholic or Alcoholism which doesn't apply to many people who quit drinking. However, there are many a poor soul who have lost the choice to moderate or quit. A wise choice.
Yes, I still don't know exactly where I was on the spectrum. I've seen worse, but the people who used to be on my same level as me are now much worse, in my opinion. Best to get off that train before it picks up too much speed. I've seen alcohol's ruinous effects firsthand. If we can inspire one or two people to take a different, healthier path, that contributes to a meaningful life, in my opinion.
Happy that you made good choice while you could still do so. Disagree with religion = dimwits. Many religions are so different. A faith can be intellectual and grounded too.
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. It is hard to let ‘friends’ go that for you that used to be drinking buddies. However if they are preventing you from getting to a more wholesome place - where you clearly are now- it is necessary / vital. Keep pressing on to the goal. Blessings upon you and your family.
Hmmm ... it's an unexpected video. It saddens me that we sometimes have to be exposed to that kind of opinionated behavior and that you subsequently felt the need to speak out about it. Your decisions about alcohol and a plethora of other things are part of what makes you who you are. If only people could just celebrate each other for who they are and not judge on what's in their glasses ... 😢
I'm not sure what you're getting at here. It's so obviously clear the damage that alcohol does to people, families, finances, society, etc. It is the rot inside the apple that doesn't show until it is cracked open. Almost everyone I know has a story from their life, whether it involves themselves, family members or friends where alcohol induced behavior has left terrible trauma or outright PTSD. Quitting alcohol is one of the best decisions a person can make for themselves and their loved ones.
Richard, I respect your opinion. This story was sort of a retrospective of my journey down a different path, when alcohol and I separated. This channel got its start after we hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, and of all the advice I've shared, the one essential piece that contributed to my success in hiking all but the last 30 miles of the trail was my decision to quit alcohol years ago. If I hadn't quit drinking, I would never have attempted the trail. I felt compelled to share that fact, to be transparent, instead of always side-stepping its importance.
