Our Trips by Age

This is a list of the trips we have done by our ages. I have also included a few notable day hikes. This is a work in progress. John has yet to edit and post photos since 2018, and I am in the process of writing about our more recent trips. I will link them here as they are posted. You can also read about our trips by location.

Backpacking in Our 70s   |   Backpacking in Our 60s   |   Backpacking, Trekking and Trail Running in Our 50s

There were some years when we didn’t backpack at all. In 2016 I had complicated foot surgery. In 2019 we became focused on playing Pickleball and competing in tournaments. In 2020 we were preoccupied with our new house, and I was dealing with a health issue.

However, in 2021 we trained extensively for some trips in the Sierra. Unfortunately, smoke from wildfires led us to cancel our trips. In 2023 we had plans to backpack in Colorado and the Sierra, but John experienced a medical issue, and we had to cancel those trips. In 2024 Jean was sidelined with Plantar Fasciitis so John backpacked solo.

While we haven’t done as much backpacking since we stopped traveling in a motorhome and settled down into a house, we haven’t stopped!

Backpacking in our 70s

2026 — John 73 | Jean 72

Pacific Crest Trail, California

• Backpack — 9 days/8 nights on the PCT from Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite — August   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights on the PCT from Kennedy Meadows to Cottonwood Pass — August   |   John’s photos

2025 — John 72 | Jean 71

Pacific Crest Trail, California

• Backpack — 28 days/27 nights on the PCT from Cottonwood Pass to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite — August and September

Gila Wilderness, New Mexico

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights in the Gila Wilderness, New Mexico — May

Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona — May

Kanab Creek Wilderness, Arizona

• Backpack – 8 days/7 nights Sowats Point to Scotty’s Hollow – April

2024 — John 71 | Jean 70

Arizona Trail

• Backpack — 800 miles on the Arizona Trail — January to May

John Muir Trail, California

• Backpack – on the JMT from Duck Pass to Cottonwood Lake – July to August

2023 — John 70 | Jean 69

Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona

Backpack — 3 days/2 nights in Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona — June

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Backpacking in Our 60s

2022 — John 69 | Jean 68

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Backpack — 6 days/5 nights doing the Thunder River/Deer Creek Loop, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona — October

• Backpack — 6 days/5 nights on the Nankoweap Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona — September

Sierra Nevada, California

• Backpack — on the JMT from Rush Creek to Evolution Basin – July to August

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights on the Tanner and Beamer — April

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights on the South Kaibab to Grandview — April

Sierra Nevada, California

Saguaro National Park (east), Arizona

• Backpack — Saguaro National Park (east), Arizona — March

2020 — John 67 | Jean 66

Coronado National Forest

• Day hike — Elephant Head — November

2018 — John 65 | Jean 64

Pacific Crest Trail, Washington

• Backpack —39 days/38 nights on the Pacific Crest Trail Through Washington — July and August   |   John’s photos

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights on the Thunder River and Deer Creek Trails — April   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 6 days/5 nights on the Royal Arch Loop — April   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 6 days/5 nights on the Tuckup Route — March   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 6 days/5 nights on the Tuckup Trail — March and April   |   John’s photos

Havasupai Indian Reservation, Arizona

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights to Havasu Falls — February   |   John’s photos

2017 — John 64 | Jean 63

Olympic National Park, Washington

• Backpack — 8 days/6 nights on the Olympic coast — October   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 6 days/5 nights from Staircase to La Crosse Lake — September   |   John’s photos

Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights in Goat Rocks Wilderness — August   |   John’s photos

Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

• Backpack — 3 days 2 nights around Mt St Helens — July   |   John’s photos

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights on the Hermit Trail to Monument Creek — May   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 6 days/5 nights on the North Bass Trail — May   |   John’s photos

Navajo National Monument, Arizona

• Backpack — 2 days/1 night to the Keet Seel cliff dwellings — May   |   John’s photos

2015 — John 62 | Jean 61

Mt Rainier National Park, Washington

• Backpack — 10 days/8 nights on the Wonderland Trail — September and October   |   John’s photos

Sawatch, Mosquito and Tenmile Ranges, Colorado

• Day hikes — 21 14ers — June, July and August   |   Sawatch photos | Mosquito and Tenmile photos

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Backpack — 8 days/7 nights on Tuckup/Stairway Loop — May   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights on the Nankoweap Trail — April   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 2 days/1 night on the South Canyon Trail — April   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights on the South Kaibab Trail to Clear Creek — April   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 2 days/1 night to Cape Solitude — April   |   John’s photos

2014 — John 61 | Jean 60

Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights from Mt Adams to Goat Rocks — September   |   John’s photos

Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

• Backpack — 3 days 2 nights around Mt St Helens — September   |   John’s photos

Olympic National Park, Washington

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights on the Deer Park Loop — August   |   John’s photos

Peru

• Trekking — 5 days/4 nights on the Mt Ausangate Circuit — June   |   John’s photos

• Trekking — 4 days/3 nights on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu — June   |   John’s photos

Zion National Park, Utah

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights on the LaVerkin Creek Trail — May   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 2 days/1 night on the Chinle Trail — May   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 2 days/1 night through The Narrows — May   |   John’s photos

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights on the Hermit and Boucher Trails — April   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 7 days/6 nights on the Tanner and Beamer Trails, to New Hance — April   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights from South Kaibab Trail to Grandview — April   |   John’s photos

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, California

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights on the Lost Coast Trail — March   |   John’s photos

2013 — John 60 | Jean 59

Alpine Lakes Wilderness

• Backpack — 2 days/1 night from Icicle Creek to Chain Lakes — October   |   John’s photos

Glacier Peak Wilderness

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights to Spider Meadows — September   |   John’s photos

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Backpack — 7 days/6 nights from South Bass Trail to Hermits Rest — April   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights on the Royal Arch Loop — April   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights from Bright Angel Trail to Hermits Rest — April   |   John’s photos

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Backpacking, Trekking and Trail Running in Our 50s

2012 — John 59 | Jean 58

Wind River Range, Wyoming

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights to Titcomb Basin — September   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights to the Cirque of the Towers — September   |   John’s photos

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights on the Teton Crest Trail — August   |   John’s photos

Glacier National Park, Montana

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights on the Gunsight Pass Trail — August   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 7 days/6 nights over Swiftcurrent, Red Gap and Stoney Indian Passes — August   |   John’s photos

Rakiura National Park, New Zealand

• Backpack — 3 days/ 2 nights on the Rakiura Track — March   |   John’s photos

Mt Aspiring National Park, New Zealand

• Hiking/Hut — 3 days/2 nights on the Routeburn Track — March   |   John’s photos

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

• Hiking/Hut — 4 days/3 nights on the Kepler Track — March   |   John’s photos

• Hiking/Hut — 4 days/3 nights on the Milford Track — March   |   John’s photos

Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park, New Zealand

• Hiking/Hut — 2 days/1 night to the Mueller Hut — March   |   John’s photos

Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand

• Hiking/Hut — 5 days/4 nights on the Heaphy Track — February   |   John’s photos

Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track — February   |   John’s photos

Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights on the Tongariro Northern Circuit — February   |   John’s photos

2011 — John 58 | Jean 57

Zion National Park, Utah

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights in Kolob Canyon to the West Rim Trail — October   |   John’s photos

The John Muir Trail, California

• Backpack — 25 days/23 nights on the JMT from Yosemite Valley to Mt Whitney (over 2 trips) — August and September   |   John’s photos

Weminuche Wilderness Area, Colorado

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights on Cunningham Gulch Trail to the Highland Mary Lakes Trail, Colorado — July   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 7 days/6 nights on Weminuche Creek Trail to Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado — July   |   John’s photos

San Juan Mountains, Colorado

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado — July   |   John’s photos

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area / Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights in Coyote Gulch — June   |   John’s photos

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights on Bill Hall, Thunder River, Tapeats Creek and Deer Creek Trails — May   |   John’s photos

• Day hike (Rim to Rim) — the North Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails — May   |   John’s photos

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights on the Tanner Trail to the Grandview Trail — May   |   John’s photos

North Coyote Buttes, Utah

• Day hike — The Wave — April |  John’s photos

Zion National Park, Utah

• Day hike — The Subway — April   |   John’s photos

• Day hike — Angels Landing — April |  John’s photos

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights on the East Rim Trail — April   |   John’s photos

2010 — John 57 | Jean 56

Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights to The Enchantments — October   |   John’s photos

Glacier National Park, Montana

• Backpack — 4 days/3 nights to Triple Divide Pass — October   |   John’s photos

Mt Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights to Berg Lake — September   |   John’s photos

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

• Backpack/Hut — 3 days/2 nights to Tonquin Valley — September   |   John’s photos

Kachemak Bay State Park, Alaska

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights on the Grewingk Glacier Trail and Alpine Ridge Trail — August   |   John’s photos

Denali National Park, Alaska

• Backpack — 3 days/2 nights on the Mt Eielson Loop — July   |   John’s photos

Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon, Canada

• Backpack — 5 days/4 nights on the Grizzly Creek Trail to Divide Lake — July   |   John’s photos

2008 — John 55 | Jean 54

Khumbu, Nepal

• Trekking — 14 days/13 nights up the Khumbu Valley to Everest Base Camp — April and May   |   John’s photos

2007 — John 54 | Jean 53

Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania

• Trekking — 6 days/5 nights on the Marangu Route to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro — September   |   John’s photos

2003 — John 50 | Jean 49

Patagonia, South America

• Trail run — Tierra del Fuego National Park Argentina   |   John’s photos

• Trail run — Cerro Torre, Argentina   |   John’s photos

• Trail run — El Chaltén to Fitz Roy   |   John’s photos

• Trail run — Torres del Paine National Park, Chile |  John’s photos

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