It's Never Too Late to Become Fit

Another picture of my dad rapeling. here's his comments on this trip.

October 20, 1996, I attended an Elderhostel at "Touch of Nature Center", a section of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois.

There were 12 people in attendance (10 in their 60's and one other guy and myself at 73 years), and three people from the school.

After packing back packs (approximately 40 pounds), we started on a 3-day, 2-night trip. We used topography maps. Since I had been trained in map reading while in the Infantry, I led the group the first day. We slept in a large cave that night and pitched tents the second night. We traveled about nine miles altogether over very rough hills and valleys. We returned to our cabins Wednesday night.

Thursday morning, we were driven to another part of the area where we encountered cliffs and huge stones. Again I was first in rapelling a 70 foot cliff. I wore a harness hooked to a rapell rope and a beley rope in case of a fall. It was the first time I ever rapelled. Later, I climbed a 55 foot rock attached only to a beley rope.

Terrific enjoyment is my best assessment of the week.

Here's the group he was with. My dad is the 3rd from the left in the back row.