Hikers Conquer Age--and a Mountain

From a distance, they look like any other mountain hikers. As they approach, their years become more evident. By the time they get closer, there’s no doubt.

These are no young whippersnappers. They’ve got some age on them; they’re in their 60s and even 70s.

Age has slowed their pace, but not their enthusiasm as they pick their way over rocks and up steep inclines to the top of 2,000-foot-high Mt. Monadnock.

“There’s something about being up on that peak,” said Mary Tommila, 68. “It’s a challenge.”

It has nothing to do with fighting off old age, nothing to do with keeping fit. They will tell you: If you’ve hiked much of your life, there’s no reason to stop when you hit 70 or 80.

“I just enjoy it,” said Bob Bradeen, 77. “You meet good people, it’s a pleasant outing, and there’s plenty of exercise. You know you’ve done something at the end of the day.”

They are part of a group that hikes or climbs once a month during the spring, summer and fall. They’ve had as many as 24 people on a hike. They have no formal name, only a common love for the outdoors and climbing.

Their leaders are Shirley, 70, and Robert Bingham, 75, who publicize the hikes through the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock. No membership is needed. Just show up.

The guard at an entrance to Mt. Monadnock State Park says she sees many others even older who make the hike regularly on their own or with a friend. And it’s not because their age gets them into the park free.

“We like to hike, and we like company, and a lot of others do the same,” Robert Bingham said. “It really keeps you going. Most exercise is boring. I get my exercise doing something I like.”

The conversation during the three hours up Mt. Monadnock one recent day included past climbing exploits, Social Security, and the trees, flowers and rocks they passed.

“Isn’t it fascinating to see how the trees get smaller and smaller as you go higher,” said Fay Tomlinson, 67.

There are frequent but brief stops and a longer one for lunch on the rocks. But there is no huffing and puffing, no distress, even for Robert Bingham, who trails behind with his bad heart valve and artery problems.

“We’ve had people with double knee replacements, people recovering from heart attacks,” said Shirley Bingham, a former nurse who suffers from Lyme disease, which affects her joints.

The Binghams, married 15 years, met through a hiking group in the Sierra Club--he led backpacking trips and she led bicycle trips. Their health problems have slowed them but don’t keep them out of the woods or off mountain trails.

“My doctor says it’s good for me,” said Robert Bingham, a retired city planner for 30 years in big cities.

Dr. Robert Wellwood, 69, a retired physician who is a hiker himself, said he sees a lot of interest by older people to get out and exercise.

But he issued a word of caution.

“If you’ve been sedentary all your life, you have to be a little careful getting started.”