Backpacking in your 60s, the retirement of these three girlfriends, is that what you want?

Retirement is not the end, but the beginning.

When the dust settles, it is not the only choice for providing for the aged. If you have something wonderful, you can leave.

In 20 15, three close friends from colorado springs, USA, Christie Burns (58 years old), Annette Degmer (64 years old) and Lynn edmiston (65 years old) all reached retirement age. They bought an RV and became full-time travelers, exploring the world again by hiking, cycling and kayaking.

Christie was a child and family therapist before she retired, and Annette was a librarian. They have been backpackers since childhood. Lynn didn't start backpacking until she was in her fifties.

By 202 1, the three had traveled about 6,200 miles (about 9,978 kilometers) on foot, traveled all over 39 states by RV, and visited nearly 50 national parks, 80 national monuments and 6 rivers with beautiful national scenery.

0 1 special retirement gift

Many people start their travel mode after retirement, but most people will choose to stay in comfortable hotels, have leisurely afternoon tea and enjoy the scenery easily. In contrast, the retirement gift prepared by the three people for themselves is a bit special, even a bit "abusive"-hiking the Colorado Trail.

This is one of the classic hiking routes in the United States, and it is also the hiking route with the highest average altitude. It is 500 miles (804 kilometers) long, spanning the Rocky Mountains on the American continent, crossing 8 mountain ranges, 5 major river basins, 6 national wildlife reserves and 5 national forests.

They shared their hiking trip on YouTube and named their women's group Wander Women, and their dog Shug acted as "Trail Boss".

Hiking is accompanied by some arduous challenges, from how to ensure adequate drinking water in the desert, to pay attention to the existence of grizzly bears in the wild and physical discomfort, which bring many uncertain factors to the journey.

However, the three men overcame many difficulties, persevered, and finally got their place and spent the best time along the way.

"We want to inspire the elderly to go out." Christie said, "society tells us that when you retire, you will stand at the end of your life, but in fact, you can choose to take another road-do something different like us."

Expand the scope of life, know as many people as possible and experience new things. This is the common motto of several people. Their advice to their peers is not to worry about what they will look like when they are 60 or 80, to avoid delaying their dreams as much as possible, and to do what they want as soon as possible without making excuses.

Unexpected contact is the fun of adventure.

Most of their videos record trivial life, such as daily walking, taking care of hikers' feet, looking for the Bush Jay in Florida, and sometimes accompanied by humorous side notes, ranging from one to two minutes to forty minutes.

These three people once asked fans on YouTube to provide them with beds for the night or gadgets for hiking.

"Out of the comfort zone, it is inevitable that all kinds of things will happen, but you will suddenly meet people who help you when you are unexpected."

Social platforms have become another way for them to connect with travelers.

The trio said that building unexpected connections during the trip is one of the joys of exploration. Knowing different people and landscapes has changed their lives and changed each other's inherent thinking.

"In an unsatisfactory world, being associated with all kinds of people and all kinds of scenery really gives us some hope and confidence. This is a positive, beautiful and optimistic experience for us. " Christie said.

An opportunity to "reinvent" yourself.

"Hiking can exercise the brain, restore the memory of the hippocampus and exercise physical coordination. Outside, anything can happen. This is by far the most effective way to keep the brain flexible. "

Daniel J. Levitin wrote in his book "Successful Old Age: A Neuroscientist's Exploration of Our Life Strength and Potential" published in 2020.

As Christie said, "When traveling in an RV, we are always in new places, constantly checking the map and trying to find new hiking and cycling places. Everything around is always strange and changing. "

They often walk for more than ten hours every day for several months, cross hiking routes, visit national parks and play kayaking on pleasant lakes. ...

The body passes through different environments, but the inner world is orderly. During the journey, they still insist on exercising and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Settle down in the scenery and find inner peace.

"This is amazing. I never thought that when I was in my 60s, I would make such a decision and live such a life, "Lynn said.

Wandering in the beautiful wilderness and making friends with like-minded women, all three have reshaped themselves in nature.

"At the end of the day, we are talking about the night sky, or what happened during the day, which is very fulfilling."

In the future, Wander Women wants to go overseas and start more hiking around the world. Although many plans have been stopped because of the global epidemic. However, even if they can only have a deep contact with nature in their own country, the three are very happy.

At present, Christie and Annette have arrived in South Dakota, and the three will soon regroup and embark on a new journey.