As I am just a few days away from my 70th birthday, thoughts go through my head as to how long I can keep walking long distances. Just wondering how many 70+ trekkers there are out there and what is/was the oldest trekker in history.
Some years ago I came across two guys coming out of RHB who were 83 years old. They said they did the C2C every year and would keep going until they drop. A friend of mine here is 80+ and he walks 18 klm three times a week. Starting at 600mts, going up over a range at 1440 mts,down the other side to a town and gets a train home. He knackers me out when we go to the shops.

As I am only 45,I am a bit behind you,Oldun,but have a good birthday when it arrives!
Nimrod

I met a lovely man last year who had done the dales way when he was 80. I met a lady doing the St. Cuthbert trail who was 70. I guess the moral of the story is keep walking.

Edward Payson-Weston walked across the USA in record time to celebrate his 70th birthay and only stopped walking in his late eighties due to being run over by a taxi.In his younger days he was the first man to walk 500 miles in six days.

There is a bench in Keld that is dedicated to two ladies who walked both the Coast to Coast and Pennine Way.I believe they were both in their late eighties and one could have been ninety.

I think the secret is in keeping a good cardiovascular fitness base throughout the year.Everyone I have met who is over sixty and very fit puts it down to regular physical training which includes running and swimming.

Oldun, yes, have a good celebration of your forthcoming birthday. Are we all invited to the party ?

Hi Oldun,
Many Happy Returns of the Day
can anybody come
just keep on walking, felix kept on walking and keeps on walking still
regards ern

when i was on my 3rd c2c the other week i stopped at lordstones cafe to shelter from the weather .
as i was having a bite to eat , a pleasant old chap came and chatted to me about walking and my journey .
he was a keen walker himself and spent most summers walking in spain .
he was 78 years old and looked very fit for his age and loved walking.
he told me over the last year or so he'd become i'll and lost over 2 stone in weight , after tests at hospital he was diagnosed with diabetes .
he was quite pleased that it was diabetes and not the dreaded big "C" .
so now he can get on with the rest of his life and carry on walking .
lovely bloke ...

Of course Oldun has a big advantage over us lowlanders with all that clean Swiss air.
Dave.

Oldun, many happy returns of the day!

In 2007 on the C2C I met a tall, lean Canadian couple in their 70's who were trekking and camping for the full crossing. They were close to the end on a W-E crossing.

"Our children think we're nuts!" they said cheerfully, and loped away across the moors.

Happy Birthday Oldun.