For the past fifteen years I have been hiking, climbing, snowshoeing and skiing (both downhill and uphill) in all kinds of terrain and conditions in every corner of Colorado. I have dealt with and resolved all kinds of issues such as electrical storms, rock slides, getting lost and exhaustion that I encountered along the way. The climbing got me into many unusual situations that took special measures to deal with because I started climbing when I was 64, an unlikely age.
In the ensuing years, I had climbed ALL 58 mountains over 14,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains. They are called fourteeners and for that, I got a medal from the Colorado Mountain Club. What I loved most in addition to the physical challenge, was the problem solving, the beauty, the infinite variety of experiences and the wonder of the profound communication I enjoyed between me and my dog.
I had challenges that needed to be overcome to be sure including fitness, weight and improper equipment. What I learned was that it is worth the work to discover that it is never too late to find a new passion in life. And I learned that passion is the key ingredient to the quality of life, especially later in life.
Outdoor adventures lead to joy and wellness
Many people we met in the high mountains, when encountering Emme and me, would say: “you are an inspiration as to how good life can be even at an age when many are retired.” Not only did I have great adventures with Emme, but I also have a lot to say for those wishing to take up hiking in pursuit of health and happiness.
My adventuring started in business at age 22 when I founded one of the first computer timesharing companies, Comshare, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and ran it for 24 years. During those years I learned about seeming insurmountable odds and how to overcome them. Later in life I learned those same principles work when in challenging physical situations.
In The Dog Who Took Me Up A Mountain I chronicle with humor, inner thoughts and even some advice on why passion is so important in life – it gives a reason to get up in the morning, to eat well, to exercise, to learn, and to live in the present. I will also talk about how big challenges can be broken down into more manageable tasks that become more practical to overcome. Climbing mountains turned out to be my story, yours can be anything as long as you love it enough to persist in its pursuit.