‘Seasoned’ Hikers
I’m here to tell you not to sell yourself short. I didn’t start backpacking until I was 48—and I’m certainly not alone in starting at that point in life.
In the intervening years, I’ve become more involved in various hiking communities—both online and in person. I’ve met many, many people who either started or resumed hiking or backpacking when they became older.
My first backpacking trip was a multi-day trip to the Sierra where we walked a section of the John Muir Trail. We climbed mountain passes up to 12,000′, and reached the peak of Mt. Whitney, which was 14,495 ft. It helped that I was with an experienced backpacker, my husband Ralph, but ‘at the end of the day,’ I still had to carry a heavy pack up and down numerous challenging mountain passes.
That first trip led me to write my first backpacking book, “We’re in the Mountains not over the Hill: Tales and Tips from Seasoned Women Backpackers.” A title that was enjoyed by many, and content that resonated with thousands.
As this website grows, we’ll explore topics related to long-distance hiking and backpacking. Who can do it, who is doing it, and how you can join them if you haven’t already.
Stay tuned and join in!