Adventure Question....

[Coach Potter]

Is there anyone out there over 40 who has always wanted to do some sort of “outdoor adventure” but hasn’t?

In this context, I’m defining adventure as something that is done outside in a big wild place (wilderness or roadless), longer in duration (5+days), physically demanding (something that would require training to prepare for), involves fishing or hunting, and lastly gives you a bit of the butterflies when you envision it. The kind of feeling that is a combination of excitement with a touch of doubt or fear.

I made fishing or hunting part of the equation because we all fish, many of us hunt, and those added elements change the dynamic of a wilderness adventure…they become the focal point of why you would do something of this nature. It makes the adventure different than say a through hike or big bike ride.

The follow up question…

If you want to but haven't, what do you believe are your barriers to entry? Is it time, lack of knowledge, a belief it’s too late, physical limitations etc.? Your reasons can be anything, just tells us what has kept you from doing something like this if it’s something you’ve wanted to do. If adventure doesn’t interest you then this is irrelevant.

 

[Fourbtgait]

Is there anyone out there over 40 who has always wanted to do some sort of “outdoor adventure” but hasn’t?

In this context, I’m defining adventure as something that is done outside in a big wild place (wilderness or roadless), longer in duration (5+days), physically demanding (something that would require training to prepare for), involves fishing or hunting, and lastly gives you a bit of the butterflies when you envision it. The kind of feeling that is a combination of excitement with a touch of doubt or fear.

I made fishing or hunting part of the equation because we all fish, many of us hunt, and those added elements change the dynamic of a wilderness adventure…they become the focal point of why you would do something of this nature. It makes the adventure different than say a through hike or big bike ride.

The follow up question…

What do you believe are your barriers to entry? Is it time, lack of knowledge, a belief it’s too late, physical limitations etc.? Your reasons can be anything, I just tells us what has kept you from doing something like this if it’s something you’ve wanted to do. If adventure doesn’t interest you then this is irrelevant.

Of course I have. Though I did the majority of such adventures younger.
Now limitation is knee issues from past adventures

 

[DimeBrite]

I suspect that one major reason is a lack of partners to join the big adventure(s). Going solo might be a big barrier, especially for a worried spouse.

 

[2MANY]

Finding equal partners has always been challenging.
Spent endless weeks in a wall tent 20-30 miles in.
The mountain men had it figured out.
The adventure they feared was civilization.

 

[Coach Potter]

Of course I have. Though I did the majority of such adventures younger.
Now limitation is knee issues from past adventures

What kinds of stuff were you in to when you were younger...did you lean more toward fishing, hunting, or both?

What's the nature of your knee issues, if that's not too personal?

 

[Coach Potter]

I suspect that one major reason is a lack of partners to join the big adventure(s). Going solo might be a big barrier, especially for a worried spouse.

That would be a serious barrier to entry. Like you said, even bigger issue with a spouse who wants to see you again. On my most recent trip, I came out a day early due to a health concern. I sent my wife an Inreach message the night before I headed out. I just told her I'd be home a day early and didn't expect her to ask why. My next mistake was being honest as to why...she worried all night knowing that I was having some troubles.

If it happens again I will simply tell her I'm missing her.

 

[Fourbtgait]

What kinds of stuff were you in to when you were younger...did you lean more toward fishing, hunting, or both?

What's the nature of your knee issues, if that's not too personal?

Horse packing or backpacking into mountains. New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Montana, Washington. Mostly fish or enjoy.
Some doctors say I need a new knee lol.

 

[Coach Potter]

Finding equal partners has always been challenging.
Spent endless weeks in a wall tent 20-30 miles in.
The mountain men had it figured out.
The adventure they feared was civilization.

This is a real challenge! Currently, I only know 4 guys that are capable of doing a big trip. I know plenty of dudes who could become prepared but aren't interested.

I have had 2 additional friends who have said they wanted to but never took the steps to prepare. One guy was pretty upset with me last spring when I told him he wasn't going.

 

[Coach Potter]

Horse packing or backpacking into mountains. New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Montana, Washington. Mostly fish or enjoy.
Some doctors say I need a new knee lol.

I have two friend's who had a knee replacement prior to 55. One of them is like a brand new man! The other had complications and is really struggling.

I had my left hip replaced at 43. I was an old man trapped in a young'ish man's body at that point. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made but a hip is pretty easy to recover from compared to a knee.

 

[dirty dog]

I have lived and worked in the woods of the PWN most of my adult life.
Lived in a tee pee on the Crooked river above the reservoir outside Prineville, Or. from January to April of 1978.
No electricity, no running water, temperature below freezing for 60 days, many days below 0 degrees.
It was an adventure.
Horse packed into the wilderness for early hunting season for two weeks.
That was easy compared to that winter on the Crooked.
Snowed camped in the Mt Jefferson wilderness over Christmas and New Years in 1977.
Another easy trip.
I'm now 74 yrs young and I have learned my limitations.
I'm going to go deer and elk hunting with my son in MT this season.
Walking from the truck to kill a buck or bull and getting the meat back to the truck will be enough for this ole guy.
Get out there and enjoy the wilds of the PNW

 

[Fourbtgait]

I have two friend's who had a knee replacement prior to 55. One of them is like a brand new man! The other had complications and is really struggling.

I had my left hip replaced at 43. I was an old man trapped in a young'ish man's body at that point. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made but a hip is pretty easy to recover from compared to a knee.

I debated replacement. One good friend died from complications. Then cost, plus not able to take time off from work. It’s been 5 years of pain. This spring I started a supplement regimen, a kenpo workout and very little pain if any.
Like Dirty Dog says, I know my limitations now, have lived a full life.

 

[Porter2]

Having kids has definetly limited opportunities. Not only mine but friends kids too. The calendar really shrinks and the ability to align everyone’s schedules takes a minor miracle. So the 7-8-9 day DIY in Alaska are over. No one really likes sleeping on the ground anymore, packing lots of gear, and living off peanut butter sandwiches the last couple of days of the journey. There is 8-9 of us, all ex college players and in our mid/late 50’s and young 60’s.. We have never gotten all of us to go at same time but usually we get 4-6. We have now gone to Smaller 3-4 day trips and have a home base…. Rent a cabin or house. All of us are in decent to excellent shape and we still do the… create our own bush whacking trail to some waters, exploration hikes, etc. We just now leave at dusk and go sleep in a bed or on a sofa.

 

[Gary Knowels]

I'm only 38 but have self-limited these types of things for many reasons.
1) finances (mostly about gears, time off work, etc )
2) lack of confidence in my skills/preparedness/fitness
3) lack of an adventure partner
4) a wife with anxiety and a much lower risk tolerance than myself, who also doesn't enjoy that sort of thing

That said, I broke out of that a little bit and started going on shorter solo backpacking trips in my mid 30s. Then I got a wild hair and backpacked the wonderland trail in 2021, more than doubling the number of nights I'd spent in the backcountry. That trip wrecked me, I got heat exhaustion in the middle of the trip and trench foot near the end. That experience has kept my trips in the shorter 2-5 day range since, but I'm getting the itch to do something bigger again.

I'm curious to what led you to propose the question.

 

[Tom Butler]

About a decade ago I decided to curtail my adventuring. I figured I had done a lot of things, enjoying the heck out of it, but with grand kids coming along I figured I'd focus on them. Got mom with us now so those responsibilities keep me close also.
Kids are getting bigger so maybe some bigger adventures are in my future, we'll see.

 

[2MANY]

Damn I love my son's baseball seasons.
Final year this year.

 

[Coach Potter]

I have lived and worked in the woods of the PWN most of my adult life.
Lived in a tee pee on the Crooked river above the reservoir outside Prineville, Or. from January to April of 1978.
No electricity, no running water, temperature below freezing for 60 days, many days below 0 degrees.
It was an adventure.
Horse packed into the wilderness for early hunting season for two weeks.
That was easy compared to that winter on the Crooked.
Snowed camped in the Mt Jefferson wilderness over Christmas and New Years in 1977.
Another easy trip.
I'm now 74 yrs young and I have learned my limitations.
I'm going to go deer and elk hunting with my son in MT this season.
Walking from the truck to kill a buck or bull and getting the meat back to the truck will be enough for this ole guy.
Get out there and enjoy the wilds of the PNW

Sounds like you definitely had yours!

 

[Coach Potter]

Having kids has definetly limited opportunities. Not only mine but friends kids too. The calendar really shrinks and the ability to align everyone’s schedules takes a minor miracle. So the 7-8-9 day DIY in Alaska are over. No one really likes sleeping on the ground anymore, packing lots of gear, and living off peanut butter sandwiches the last couple of days of the journey. There is 8-9 of us, all ex college players and in our mid/late 50’s and young 60’s.. We have never gotten all of us to go at same time but usually we get 4-6. We have now gone to Smaller 3-4 day trips and have a home base…. Rent a cabin or house. All of us are in decent to excellent shape and we still do the… create our own bush whacking trail to some waters, exploration hikes, etc. We just now leave at dusk and go sleep in a bed or on a sofa.

Sounds like you did your adventuring in your earlier years!

 

[Coach Potter]

About a decade ago I decided to curtail my adventuring. I figured I had done a lot of things, enjoying the heck out of it, but with grand kids coming along I figured I'd focus on them. Got mom with us now so those responsibilities keep me close also.
Kids are getting bigger so maybe some bigger adventures are in my future, we'll see.

Every kid should be granted a grandpa like you!

 

[Porter2]

Sounds like you did your adventuring in your earlier years!

Yes, but that doesn’t mean the mind and heart desires another it just more complicated now. Well unless you have unlimited funds. But I don’t think anyone on this board is on a major top 500 CEO payroll roster. But if you had those funds you wouldn’t lent be roughing it either.

 

[Coach Potter]

I'm only 38 but have self-limited these types of things for many reasons.
1) finances (mostly about gears, time off work, etc )
2) lack of confidence in my skills/preparedness/fitness
3) lack of an adventure partner
4) a wife with anxiety and a much lower risk tolerance than myself, who also doesn't enjoy that sort of thing

That said, I broke out of that a little bit and started going on shorter solo backpacking trips in my mid 30s. Then I got a wild hair and backpacked the wonderland trail in 2021, more than doubling the number of nights I'd spent in the backcountry. That trip wrecked me, I got heat exhaustion in the middle of the trip and trench foot near the end. That experience has kept my trips in the shorter 2-5 day range since, but I'm getting the itch to do something bigger again.

I'm curious to what led you to propose the question.

Everything you said makes sense. A solo trip isn't something I've tried yet but I intend to! I feel like doing a backcountry trip alone would be a completely different and more challenging.