How Many Years Remain?

There may be a connection between the fact that my grandfather logged the number of bushels of wheat, oats,and barley harvested each year in his daily journal, and my own fixation on writing in my journal after each hike and recording miles completed.  Hiking and multi-day backpack trips have been a part of my life for years.  The natural draw to be outdoors goes back to my childhood at Shadeville Farm.  I would be outdoors from early morning until I heard Mom call, "Gary, time for supper" from the front porch.

The miles hiked over the years didn't have any particular importance to me until a few years ago I was asked how many miles I had hiked in my life.  I had no definitive answer.  The question resonated with me for a few months before I decided to compile a detailed account.

Folsom Field, campus of CU at Boulder, after running the 2010 BoulderBolder 10K.

It began in 1965 at the age of 19.  The first recorded hike in a journal was 5 miles in Colonel Denning State Park, in Pennsylvania.  Over the next three decades, hiking was merely a fun thing to do with family and friends.

On summer vacations we hiked with our two daughters.  After the kids were grown, my wife and I took many road trips, many with our bikes on the back, and usually found an interesting trail to enjoy.  When our oldest daughter settled in Denver with her family, we hiked during visits.


In 2000, at the age of 53, my love for the outdoors remained strong.  Like my grandfather who recorded everything from the number of young chicks he bought to the price of eggs sold, I kept a journal of every hike.

Now there was a bookshelf dedicated to holding trail journals loaded with written accounts of trips in Shenandoah National Park, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and all the major trail systems in Penna. (Tuscarora, Susquehannock, Mid-State, Horse Shoe, and Appalachian Trail).

JoAnn and Gary in RMNP.

In 2002, there was a ramp up in terms of trail miles completed.  My log recorded 169.7 miles that year.  The century mark was reached in August of that year, on a 34.2 mile trip from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia to Ashby Gap, Virginia.

In 2004, the year I was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease, there were 136.4 miles logged.  The century mark was made in May, with a hike on the AT.  I was joined by my good friend, Kevin, a life-long outdoor enthusiast.  The hike was a 15.4 mile outing from Wertzville Road north to Duncannon, PA.

Dylan places a pot of water on the stove to make hot chocolate while Connor has breakfast...4 days at Chicago Basin, in the Weminuche Wilderness, July, 2010.

Then a milestone of sorts occurred in September of 2005.  I reached 1,000 completed trail miles.  Over the next few years, my life/lifestyle would change dramatically.  My wife and I had raised two beautiful, talented, and independent girls.  They were now on their own, making us extremely proud.  A successful 35-year career with a global firm was behind me.  I decided to retire at age 60.  We decided to relocate to Colorado to be close to our two grandsons. It was a monumental transition for both of us.

Within a few weeks after arriving in Colorado, I found the Aurora Center for Active Adults.  The name said something to me.  The words "Active Adults" told me maybe I could find something there that I would enjoy doing.

I quickly learned next to skiing and cycling, hiking/backpacking in Colorado is a way of life.  In Pennsylvania where unless you are a hunter, it is difficult to find someone who enjoys walking in the mountains every chance they had.  If I had not connected with Kevin (a former co-worker), hundreds of miles and dozens of great memories would not have been experienced.   

Officially retiring in July, 2007, I decided to continue working part-time.  A job seemed to be waiting for me.  I found a sales position on line, at Gander Mountain Outfitters in Aurora...in the camping department.   It was a perfect fit.  The daily conversations with customers about what tent they should consider for their family to the guys who just wanted my opinion of what the pros and cons were on a sleeping bag or pair of hiking boots provided me a renewed sense of value.

Relaxing poolside in Cancun, Mexico.

Trail miles continued to grow in 2007 and 2008.  Then in 2009, my log recorded 131.1 miles.  That year, the century mark was reached in September with a 2 mile hike on the Buchannan Pass Trail.  The following year (2010), there were 150.9 miles recorded.  The century milestone was reached that year in August with a 7.8 mile hike, by coincidence, on the same Buchannan Pass Trail.

In July of 2011, I had surpassed the 1,500 mile mark.  Completed mileage that year surged to 155.6.  September was the month I passed the century mark with a 9.5 mile hike in Butler Gulch.

This was also the year of a minor setback.  In February, I had knee surgery to replace a torn lateral miniscus.  After eight weeks of prescribed intensive PT followed by another four weeks of daily exercise in the gym and at home, I was anxious to get back on trail.  To come back from surgery after three months off trail and have a banner hiking year was gratifying.

What would follow was the granddaddy of all years to date (2012), in terms of miles completed.  My log accounted for 239.3 miles, a true milestone.  The first 100 mile mark that year was reached in June with an 8 mile hike in Indian Creek.. The second hundred was reached in September with a 8.2 mile hike in French Gulch.

June, 2013, trail ride in Gunnison National Forest outside Crested Butte.  JoAnn on Noodle, Gary on Butters.

That brings me to 2013.  As of this writing, 146.9 miles have been recorded through early July.  That tracks to over 250 miles for the year, another milestone if reached. 

In addition, including the hike completed last week at Jim Creek, outside Winter Park, Colorado, my journal recorded 2,003.1 miles completed.

There is no sure time frame for which a persons passion will last.  Professionals who study those of us who live with PD have found that a person with the disease can expect to function normally for up to 20 years after being diagnosed.  That means in 2014, I will be half way there...I THINK NOT!

In fact, I don't see myself slowing down much anytime soon.  In fact, since developing a "Life List" a few years ago, my intentions are to aggressively push back the ever advancing symptoms of PD with vigorous and challenging exercise.

What do I see myself doing in the next 5 to 10 years?

• 1 - 3 years:  Enjoy more time with my wife.  Enjoy watching my grandsons play sports. Complete a minimum of 30 day hikes of up to 7 miles each.  Continue weekly yoga classes.  Plan and finish a multi-day backpack trip.  Hike in Glacier National Park.
• 3 - 5 years: Enjoy more time with my wife.  Enjoy my grandsons play sports.  Complete a minimum of 20 day hikes of up to 5 miles each.  Continue weekly yoga classes.  Plan and finish a multi-day backpack trip.
• 5 - 7 years:  Enjoy more time with my wife.  Enjoy watching my grandsons play sports.  Complete a minimum of 15 day hikes of up to 5 miles each.  Continue weeky yoga classes.  Plan and finish a multi-day backpack trip.
• 7 - 10 years:  Enjoy more time with my wife.  Complete a minimum of 10 day hikes of up to 3 miles each.  Continue weekly yoga classes.  Plan and finish a multi-day backpack trip.
• 10 - 12 years:  Enjoy more time with my wife.  Complete a minimum of 10 day hikes of up to 3 miles each.  Continue weekly yoga classes.  Plan and finish a multi-day backpack trip.

Hiking at one of  my favorite places, Eldorado Canyon.

The best made plans can be snuffed out quickly should ones health decline.  I see myself completing physical challenges well into my eighth decade.  There is no doubt, however, each year has required me to work harder to reach the high elevation destinations on weekly hikes.  My pace on trail has slowed a bit too over the last two years.  I stop more often, take longer rest/water breaks on trail.  But I totally enjoy the journey every time I get to the backcountry.

It is less important to just "Get to the top of the mountain" as in years past.  I now live by the mantra of fully enjoying the journey.  In addition, my camera has become my best friend on trail.  It captures images I can enjoy over and over regardless of my health.

Enjoy the Journey!