how old too old?

[old dude]

Musle mass too

Gentlemen--
How old is too old? It's certainly true that attitude and genes have much to do with it but also the phsyiological fact that once past age 30 our bodies lose (on average) 3% of lean musle mass per year. I'm 56 now and I know very well that I cannot perform with as much raw power,agility and flexability as I could when in my 20's and early 30's. Technique and experience compensate for much of the loss-- but I have also found that little labor saving devices ('crutches' if you like) such as a pickaroon, micro-pulleys, a jet sled and my personal favorite the sidekick rope retrieval device all go a long way toward making any job less stressful and more efficent. After all--efficentcy is really our only hope in keeping up with the younger guys.

 

[cazman]

hi all names Eric started climbing trees for a living at 15 im now 39 . its been an interesting career one cut from a saw and aug 4th 2000 i fell 55 ft straight down broke my back and both legs 6 months later i was back at work.
since then ive said a few times "ok this is my last season" hasnt happen yet the thing is im addicted and this addiction is not going away with age. i can see me up there at 80. my cousin climbed till he was 45 did 30 years in the biz never once got hurt, last year he was walking down the street tripped over a 2 inch curb falls hits his head and bites it.:notrolls2:

 

[underwor]

At 60, I just took up aerobics and lifting at a local fitness center to help with the transition from sitting all day teaching to climbing in the summers. Also helped me get below 200 for first time in about 15 years. About 1 hour each morning, 6-7am. Think it is working, but will know more for sure by end of next week. Graduation is Friday evening, so real work starts after that. One of my mentors in 67 was 76 and still going strong.

Will climb as long as it is still fun.

 

[chrisvconley]

Why is it accepted for other tradesmen to work into their 60 s and not an arborist? At 58 I lift weights 6 days a week on a split routine (upper body and lower). Run one day 4-6 miles, and do a combo stairmaster and airdyne bike 40 mins the other for 6 days a week taking off when an hour or more racquetball match happens. Hand grippers are a must. Norm Bernher (miss sp?) who I worked w many years ago, a two time national climbing champion, was still climbing at 85 from a newspaper art my sister sent me from Flemington, NJ. He had cut down to 3 days a week. Hope he s doing ok if anyone out there that knows him hears this.

For anyone passing through this thread in the future... https://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/2014/04/norman_berner_worlds_oldest_ar.html

 

[English Al]

I'm retired (at 67) and haven't climbed now for a good while (since my heart attack in my mid-fifties), but along with my team we still do private work (no contracting) mainly out of the "bucket" as you guys say stateside (ours is a 65' Skyking) and a lot of fallen tree clearance for firewood. I still get a buzz out of the job and enjoy the odd day on the saw, though I leave the 076 with 4-footer to the younger ones!

Keep fit and keep climbing as long as you want to and feel safe doing so.