Backpacking Bliss – After hiking more than 1,800 miles, we discovered a strange phenomenon. In online forums and on hikes, middle-aged backpackers often apologize for spending money on hikes, as if spending money is “cheating.” It’s as if thru-hiking is a young man’s sport and everyone does it differently than the typical 23-year-old – the old man “does it wrong.” Some things we heard:
“I spent a lot of money eating out at a nice restaurant but didn’t eat the cheap pasta there because my body needed more vegetables.”
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“I know everyone has an issue with planning ahead, but I have a technical question about this part of the route.”
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Wow! There are many stories and scripts on how to backpack and thru-hike. Sounds a lot like the “stories and scripts” we hear in our personal finances, careers, and relationships.
Darren and I started backpacking in our 40s. Neither of us had done much hiking or camping. Our lives were devoted to pursuing advanced degrees and striving to educate ourselves at our own expense. Most of our trips were day trips to the tallgrass prairie of Kansas. In short, we were never involved in the backpacker culture scene in high school or college, nor were we aware of it.
We have many experiences opting out of life scripts. We had no children, and in our 40s we moved from a large house in a coastal suburb to a small house on the Great Plains. We retired from working on W2 in our late 40s. We allow you to spend as much or as little as you want on backpacking and hiking trips, and plan as much as you want. It’s your life and your trip.
By being relatively ignorant of backpacker culture and diving headfirst into it in middle age, we overlook some of the biases, judgments and tropes that exist. It makes me wonder why so many people think cheap backpackers are doing it “right” and that people who spend a little more, especially middle-aged backpackers, are doing it “wrong”.
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Backpacking requires a lot of free time. In Western cultures, people tend to have the most free time in early adulthood and retirement.
Many avid backpackers start hiking at a young age. Backpacking in Europe or Southeast Asia is a rite of passage for some young people. Because advertising, media, and literature all associate this rite of passage with youth, it’s easy to see why backpackers are stereotyped as young and cash-strapped.
Almost everyone who hikes has a budget. And regardless of age, everyone’s budget can vary greatly. Statistically, you’re more likely to meet traditional retirees taking early retirement on your hike than college students. You’re more likely to meet a Microsoft executive on sabbatical than a broke grad student.
Some people deliberately adopt a frugal mindset, focusing on the necessities and enjoying nature without the distractions of overconsumption or luxury. But this focus on frugality may seep into every aspect of some people’s hiking, even when it comes to necessary gear. By middle age, we allow you to buy the right backpack. This also applies to shoes. Ask a live salesperson who is trained on how to make customers happy – you’ll learn a lot!
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Yes, that higher-quality wool shirt is a little more expensive than a fast-fashion tee, but it’ll last you for years instead of just one hike. You might even fall in love with it and wear it when you get home.
Hiking often requires carrying necessary supplies and equipment for long periods of time. Through frugality, individuals can develop the skills of resourcefulness, improvisation, and self-sufficiency, all valuable traits in outdoor adventures. However, as we age, we need to remember that we are more susceptible to injuries from overweight bags than we were in our 20s or 30s.
Take your own journey, not someone else’s. Think carefully about whether self-sufficiency is your primary goal for your trip. If your trip is more about reflection, being in nature, or connecting with a partner, tailor your gear and accommodations to those goals.
Many hikers prioritize minimizing their impact on the environment. By adopting frugal practices such as reusing gear, minimizing waste and consuming fewer resources, hikers can reduce their ecological footprint and promote sustainability.
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These are problems we can solve. When it comes to reducing your ecological footprint, don’t sweat the small stuff. According to science, the best ways to reduce your ecological footprint are to have one fewer child, live car-free, and take one fewer transatlantic trip per year. According to science, backpacking and sleeping styles while traveling are not in the top ten when it comes to how to minimize your ecological footprint.
It’s worth noting that not all hikers are averse to spending money, and the motivations behind each person’s behavior can vary widely.
College students (you know, the ones in all those outdoor gear ads) are likely to prioritize adventure, exploration, and socializing while hiking.
In middle age, hikers may seek a balance between adventure and relaxation, enjoying nature at a more leisurely pace. Middle-aged hikers may also have different goals than younger hikers, such as personal reflection, connecting with nature, or seeking solitude.
Hiking Bliss. Los Glaciares National Park, Patagonia, Argentina.
Middle-aged backpackers may benefit from booking private accommodation or staying in a hotel that offers quiet areas to reflect and enjoy solitude.
Middle-aged hikers generally have more financial resources than college students. We might be able to invest in higher quality gear, choose more comfortable accommodations, or have the flexibility to go on a longer hike. This financial stability can lead to a more comfortable and enjoyable hiking experience.
Don’t get nervous if someone calls you a “credit card pilgrim” on your hike. We all share the same footprint.
Middle-aged hikers may need to consider specific health issues or physical limitations that come with age. We may need to pay more attention to proper stretching, pace ourselves, and take necessary precautions (such as cooking fiber- and protein-rich foods) to ensure our health on the road.
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No, our bodies can’t handle eating pasta and canned vegetables for 25 days straight. Don’t be embarrassed when ordering or making fresh salads and lentil stew.
Middle-aged hikers often have a different mindset and perspective than college students. We might view hiking as a way to self-care, relieve stress, or reconnect with nature. We may value solitude, introspection, and appreciation of the beauty of the natural world in different ways.
Consider that in choosing the cheapest public accommodation for yourself, you may be limiting those experiences to those with less financial resources.
Many of our hiking experiences have been on Europe’s historic pilgrimage routes. By studying the history of pilgrimage, pilgrims from all socioeconomic backgrounds participated.
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You’ll find middle-aged backpackers in the cheapest hostels in northern Spain to five-star hotels in places like Montreux, Switzerland, and everywhere in between.
Middle-aged hikers may have different priorities, preferences, or financial means, and may place less emphasis on frugality. Ultimately, each hiker does the activity in their own unique way.
Previous page Previous page Walking Via Podiensis: a visual adventure in photos and notes Next page Next page Walking 800 Miles: Hiking from the North Sea to Aosta, Italy Is the comfort of your pillow-top mattress already getting to you? Bored? Is the climate-controlled air in your home starting to turn sour? Open the doors and windows and try camping at home. Whether you’re rearranging the furniture in your living room to create a tent pad or setting up a tent pad on your lawn, here are some ideas that will allow you to reap the benefits of an overnight trip without leaving home.
Start with a tent and build from there. If you have a freestanding tent, setting it up inside or outside is a breeze. If it’s the kind of thing that can’t stand up until it’s stuck in the ground, you’re in luck. Actually, you don’t need dirt to pitch your tent. Balconies, porches, patios, decks, porches, and living rooms all make great camping spots.
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Rachel Wendling of the Washington Trails Association created a YouTube video demonstrating how to pitch a tent in your living room. The video is titled “Turn cabin fever into camping bliss at home.”
Once you’ve set up your own home, here are some other ideas for your camping accommodations:
■ Or think of it as a trial run and only use the camping gear you’ll bring with you for the actual overnight stay
■ Hang your hammock between two sturdy trees or posts and hang out in the sun all day.
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■ If you don’t have a tent, you can make one by hanging a blanket over some chairs and snuggling up inside.
Pitch a tent in your backyard or living room for a camping vacation. If you have a hammock, hang that up too. (Getty Images)
If it looks like camp, smells like camp, sounds like camp, feels like camp, then it must be camp. These extra tips will take your home hideaway to the next level:
■ Arrange the tent so the door faces the TV or computer. Play wildlife documentaries
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