Healthy adventure bucket list?

[tmitchell]

I’m 53 and still in good health thank god—and wondering what all you adventurous types would recommend putting on the bucket list in terms of “being physically able” to do it. Life is short. What are the adventures you did, planning, or wish you had done before it becomes impossible?

What are the top adventures you need a healthy body to complete?

Not looking for cruise ideas here since I’ll add them when my knees are worse

Thanks!

 

[cyber888]

Like climbing a mountain ?

I recommend going to Nepal .. then to the Khumbu region to hike up the Sherpa villages in the Mt. Everest area. You need to acclimatize in Kathmandu for a few days to adjust to the altitude. Then, you can travel to Tibet too - Lhasa, Shigaze, Samye, Dingre (the Tibet side of Mt. Everest). So, this is at an altitude of 18,000-21,000 feet. Would not recommending summitting Mt. Everest - the permit fee is like $60,000 and the human traffic and weather could kill.

https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2013/06/01/mount-everest-traffic

In Europe, I like trekking the Old Man of Storr, in the Highlands of Scotland. It's more than a half day hike up. But great views. There are many places to trek in the Scottish Highlands.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-old-man-of-storr

 

[Cricket69]

How about taking on a Camino? I did the Camino Frances three years ago and it is hands down the best thing I have ever done for myself. Five hundred miles, on foot with a backpack, starting in France at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains and going across Spain. Met people from all over the world, many of whom I still communicate with, plenty of fresh air and exercise, experienced the beauty of nature, plenty of historical places to stop and see, and so much more. Liked it so much I went back and did part of it again with my sister a year later. In 2022 headed to Portugal to do the Camino Portuguese with friends and some family members. I was gone from home for about eight or nine weeks which is why I waited until I retired to do it. I also spent a week in Amsterdam before I started the Camino, five days in Santiago de Compostela when I finished and then to Paris for ten days before I went home. Here is a link to one of many websites about different caminos, Camino de Santiago – The Pilgrimage Routes to Santiago de Compostela

 

[Zona]

A few I can think of:
Milford Track in New Zealand (or any of NZs Great Walks - it is a spectacular country)
Colorado River rafting in the Grand Canyon (side hikes can require good knees and balance)
Hiking the Pitons in St Lucia (very hard on the knees coming down!)

 

[Ronstar]

Run a marathon
Hike Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim
Hike to Havasupai Falls (in Grand Canyon)
Ragbrai - bike ride across Iowa
Tour Du Mont Blanc or similar hut to hut hikes
Hike Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Hike a few of Colorado's 14er's
Sea kayaking

 

[donheff]

I don't have a bucket list but I'm 72 and am signing up for a Grand Canyon raft trip in 2022. I was scheduled for last May but it was canceled due to Covid.

 

[finnski1]

These would be/are on my short list.


Routerburn or Milford track in NZ.
John Muir trail thru hike.
Camino.
Colorado 14000 footers. Knock a few (I have done Long's peak) or several of the challenging ones off.
The Walk across Scotland.

 

[DrRoy]

For us it is visiting the National Parks and hiking away from the lookouts on the main road.
A couple examples:
1) Upper Cathedral Lake, Yosemite. 3.5 miles from the road, and gained 1200 vertical ft. at an altitude of about 10,000 ft. We could definitely tell that the air was thinner.
2) Highline Trail in Glacier National Park.

 

[Montecfo]

I don't have a bucket list but I'm 72 and am signing up for a Grand Canyon raft trip in 2022. I was scheduled for last May but it was canceled due to Covid.

Donheff,

I had asked you about that before and it sounds like great trip. Hope you go this time.

 

[Montecfo]

Run a marathon
Hike Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim
Hike to Havasupai Falls (in Grand Canyon)
Ragbrai - bike ride across Iowa
Tour Du Mont Blanc or similar hut to hut hikes
Hike Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Hike a few of Colorado's 14er's
Sea kayaking

That's a pretty good list.

I did the Rim to River to Rim (South Rim) of Grand Canyon and it holds up and one of the greatest experiences I've enjoyed. Was freezing at top and 95 degrees at bottom (this was March. Don't try in summer).

Have also done a marathon, the Manitoba Marathon.

Speaking of rafting, could add rafting the Upper Gauley river in West Virginia (class 5 rapids-exhiliarating, especially in 4 man raft).

The Grand Canyon multiday canoe trip that Donheff mentioned is currently on my list.

Older joints do make these things tougher.

 

[Target59]

I’m hoping to kayak from Seattle to Skagway Alaska ... 1300 miles following the inside passage. DW is less than enthusiastic about the idea, however.

 

[mrWinter]

Some cool items in these replies here. Pacific Crest trail is on my list, at the very least the John Muir Trail through hike. Rim to Rim Grand Canyon would definitely be awesome too.

 

[Badger]

It doesn't get much better than hiking the Inca Trail.


Cheers!

 

[deserat]

Tour du Mont Blanc, Via Ferrata in Dolomites, Machu Picchu in South America, Ski Safari in Europe or US or Japan, Trip around Australia with hikes in The Apostles, snorkeling/diving Great Barrier Reef, swimming hiking west coast of Australia, hiking parts of New Zealand where Tolkien movies were filmed, through hike of (name your island-Mallorca, New Zealand, Crete (Samerian Gorge), Naxos, Greece, Santorini, Greece), hiking in northern Greece near Triksla and Byzantine monasteries, through hikes in Switzerland around Interlaken, hiking in Norway near fjords, drive to northern Norway and see too of world, hike near Tromso, Norway, hike along Hadrian's wall, hike along Roman roads in western England, hike along coast trail in Wales, hike along Highland Way or other trails/lochs in Scotland or Hebrides, bike around the Netherlands (northern part is beautiful), hike in Italy-Cinque Terra, Amalfi Coast, parts of Sicily, hike Tenerife or Canary Islands....hike in Patagonia, bicycle in Ecuador near Banos...hike in Croatia (Plitvces Park), Istria, Islands near Split and Dubrovnik (Korcula a Mjlet); Provence-hike along coast, gorges in national parks, canoe under Roman aquaducts, visit Arles and Roman ruins...Havasupai in Grand Canyon, hiking in Sedona, lots of hikes in Tucson and Green Valley, lots of hiking in So Cal, hikes in Yosemite....

I'm getting bummed as right now most of that list above is off limits right now. I've done quite a bit of that list, but some are still on the list....

 

[cyber888]

Climb the top and then Sky dive the Angel Falls

https://www.beautifulworld.com/south-america/venezuela/angel-falls/

 

[MuirWannabe]

I’ve done most of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). This includes the John Muir Trail. Also done the West Highland Way in Scotland. In July I’ll begin the Tour Mont Blanc.

The other hikes and adventures listed all sound great. I need to get busy!

 

[plsprius]

I do recommend the NZ treks (hikes). Particularly if this scene from my 2018 Milford Track hike appeals to you. Very well supported (all food and shelter) and reasonably priced. So good that I want to go back and trek some of the others.

 

[sengsational]

Look at a site called "theadventurists". They have numerous "stupid" things to do that will be uncomfortable for you. Doing something like what they offer makes you quite aware of the standard living conditions here. Testing your mettle might not be what you are seeking, but trips like that tend to be most memorable for me.

 

[NoiseBoy]

While this example is pretty far below the adventure level of what has been posted so far, I think it still provides one possible answer to your question.

Many of the significant historical sites in the Old World are not very handicap accessible. Case in point; climbing to the top of the towers of Notre Dame. The staircase is very narrow, and it's a steep climb. Once you get up to the top of the first tower a few of the passages around the corners are very narrow. It's a really cool view and you can get very close to what is probably the world's most famous gargoyle, but not if you're too heavy or not fit enough to climb those stairs. The same things apply to simply walking on those old cobblestone streets that are everywhere over there.

I don't have a specific age set in my mind for when I think I won't be capable of freely doing even those simple things, but I fear that it's going to come sooner than I want it to. Covid is certainly going to take a bite out of my best traveling years

 

[braumeister]

I don't have a bucket list but I'm 72 and am signing up for a Grand Canyon raft trip in 2022. I was scheduled for last May but it was canceled due to Covid.

Highly recommended; we took a week-long rafting trip and enjoyed it so much we got a few friends to go with us and did it again several years later.

For anyone else who might consider this, there are several good outfits, but we went with Hatch both times and can't recommend them highly enough.

 

[braumeister]

I’m hoping to kayak from Seattle to Skagway Alaska ... 1300 miles following the inside passage. DW is less than enthusiastic about the idea, however.

That's one of the most adventurous trips I've ever heard of. Here's hoping you get to do it!

 

[socca]

I’m 53 and still in good health thank god—and wondering what all you adventurous types would recommend putting on the bucket list in terms of “being physically able” to do it.

My generic vacation template:
(1) identify a part of the world with good hiking (although now that I'm getting old, maybe 'walking' is a better term);
(2) buy a hiking guidebook or two about the region from amazon;
(3) on location, drive a rental car to the trailhead. Do a 3/4 day hike. Stay in a mid-range hotel. Preferably do my own cooking in a kitchenette. Hot showers and soft beds are great! (when younger, backpacking was an option. Not anymore! ).
I've used this template to take some great hikes all over the world. No serious or fatal injuries, either!

Hopefully the guidebook would allow you to select hikes appropriate for your fitness level. Of course, if you hate hiking then most of this thread won't be too useful.

 

[Target59]

That's one of the most adventurous trips I've ever heard of. Here's hoping you get to do it!

Me too. I’ve got it mapped out on Google Earth and have most of the gear and logistics figured out. DW has this irrational fear of camping among the world’s largest brown bear population. I haven’t found a workaround on that one. But she’s increasingly willing to let me go alone, providing I maintain the term insurance.

 

[savory]

Many things I have enjoyed have been listed. A couple missing are long multi-week or month bike tours across USA, Mexico and Europe. But you can pick your spot. The other was our tour through Africa (it followed our Peace Corps service there, so it was easier to understand how to move around on public transport and feel comfortable in a different culture.). We just wanted to see a lot of countries and places following PC service. We took buses, trains, boats (like the locals) stayed in hostels etc. Not as physical as walking the Inca Trail but very exciting and better to do when you are young. I was about OP age at the time. Also S. Africa has the Drakensberg mountains. I only did the one day Chain Ladder hike there but it scared me, meaning it was a real challenge climbing the ladder. There are more if you want to make it a destination. Just being there is beautiful.

 

[2017ish]

Wow, what a question! This is the very reason we retired when we did... After glancing at DW's travel blog, here's a few ideas that don't repeat the many good ones above.

Snorkeling with humpbacks in Tonga (kicking to get in proper position can be strenuous)--best done on a liveaboard diveboat.

Seeing Mountain Gorillas in DRC (and I'm guessing in Rwanda and Uganda as well) requires multi-mile hiking in hilly jungle with fresh machete cut path. Walking safaris in this category as well.

Instead of Inca trail, we went on a higher altitude Salkantay trek. Also ends up at machu pichu, but we thought it would provide more diversity of nature while still giving plenty of Inca exposure.

Whilst in Peru, consider hiking to bottom of Colca Canyon. Also, although not super strenuous, hiking through jungle to see wildlife on a multiday trip into the Manu Biosphere/reserve in the upper Amazon basin is well worth doing while your legs are springy...

Many diving destinations, of course.

I second an earlier comment about Europe and climbing stairs. Surprised us on a short trip in 2018 to the extent that we have moved the area up in our planning.

Many of USA national parks have aspects that are going to be unattainable if not in good physical shape. (Zion's Angels landing is just one)

Galapagos, whether for diving or "just" for snorkeling and land trips. During one of our weeks there, a couple of people with knee problems had to sit out at times--and it was frequently hard work for them to keep up on other outings. For example, kicking to keep proximity to hammerheads or dolphin pods...

You are going to love it!