About to turn 50 and am too tired to continue

**fomofo** · 01-07-2025, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by muted reborn

Most people here in their later years have found the most joy in discovering Costco deals

Throw in a hot dog and that's Friday night, aka "Date Night".

**PNWbrit** · 01-07-2025, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by The Reverend Floater

I’d love to hear from older mags (I’m just a wee but younger than Buzz) where you find the most joy and fulfillment 50+.

Just turned 57.

Moved to Seattle from UK and a highly stressful profession in 1999.

Goofed off at a "job" here that required little effort, paid the bills, had ample vacation time and ability to take unpaid leave. Skied my ass off. Including a 36 month streak, 7 summer ski trips to South America, 4 to Europe and ski travel around North America.

Jan 2020 given a new role with same employer that I found hugely interesting and rewarding (both mentally and with $$$) worked many more hours and made taking time off difficult. Combined with the increasing shitshow Alterra/Ikon brought to my home hill, COVID shutdowns, missing almost an entire season with a badly broken rib and having a new dog with separation issues skiing has become increasingly less and less important to me. Which I'm ok about.

**Foggy_Goggles** · 01-07-2025, 05:28 PM

most joy and fulfillment 50+

Rev, for many that risk and adventure itch never goes away. I suggest you scratch it.

Struggle>fight>achieve

As you mentioned, when younger, that shit came out found us. As we age, we have to make it up. Its paradoxical. You would think that no struggle is a good thing. But its not.

How to balance that with family is a question only you can answer for yourself. And time is the finite resource. So maybe its an few amazing ski trips, or a new activity, or who knows. But it has to be hard else it won't be rewarding.

**skiJ** · 02-23-2025, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by The Reverend Floater

Goddamn. I always thought you were younger. Anyhow, I appreciate that perspective.

I have been very fortunate in that we are financially secure but I will say that I struggle with finding as much joy in life as I did in my younger years. Kids are rad but upon a lot of reflection, I think I miss things like adventure, risk and uncertainty in a weird way. I vividly remember being stressed to no end about making it to the next pay check, etc; but I also savored not knowing what was next, even if I didn’t know it at the time. Hoping to get back to some adventure once we’re out of the little kid stage. I’d love to hear from older mags (I’m just a wee but younger than Buzz) where you find the most joy and fulfillment 50+.

hey, magg.s -
This thread is important to me, and I checked-back to see where it is at, and consider IF I have anything to contribute -
Rev's comment about joy and fulfillment after 50+ touches home ;

for tgr sake, I will be try to be brief, rather than my often 'skiJ essay' -

trying to help take care of my father in the last year of his life, is the most rewarding thing I have done in the last ten years

(( briefly, edit. ))

( edit )

risk ? very different,
adventure ? also very different.

Thank you.

skiJ

**Bunion 2020** · 02-23-2025, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by The Reverend Floater View Post I’d love to hear from older mags (I’m just a wee but younger than Buzz) where you find the most joy and fulfillment 50+.

Enjoy your 50s and early 60s. I (67) am still healthy and feel good most days about life and all but the difference between 57 & 67 is pretty damn big. In the past 3 years my level of skiing is diminished quite a bit, I don't ski the steep, exposed big lines that I used to. Getting to be OK with that has been a bit of a struggle and I am working on that.

**schindlerpiste** · 02-23-2025, 09:11 AM

^^^^My thoughts and feelings 100%. While I don't mind hiking to the Castle, Murdocks, Backside,Highboy or even Main, I'll do it once or twice and then call it a day. Also, I no longer ski from bell to bell. If I ski hard from 9-1:30, I am exhausted. If so, it is one beer, walk the dogs, a sauna and then snoring in front of the TV.

**skiJ** · 02-23-2025, 10:05 AM

echoing Bunion and schindler's comments, the change in my skiing has not been easy to accept ( I thought I had ten more years ! ) -
two injuries - Not skiing - have dramatically altered things ( and I am not skiing this season ) -
There was a time - and it. Is not so long ago - when I could not imagine Life without skiing!
But I am now aware, When/If I ski again, it will be Very different than it was (!)

Good luck (!)

skiJ

**ticketchecker** · 02-23-2025, 10:25 AM

Turned 60 last Fall, been dealing with ACL / knee issues since ‘83. I’ve managed to keep myself on the hill just about every season, definitely less interested in tight EC tree skiing this year as I nurse one of the knees to a TKR procedure in the spring. I can handle about half a dozen groomers and I’m headed for an ice pack.

Perfect pitch powder skiing still drives me, looking at being able to spend more time in snowier places not in New England once I get the new kit installed and ready to roll.

Heading up for my half dozen groomers in about an hour, the older I get the better I was.

Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

**Bunion 2020** · 02-23-2025, 10:36 AM

Heading up for my half dozen groomers in about an hour, the older I get the better I was.

Used to be a legend, then I discovered, most real legends are dead.

**GSinister** · 02-23-2025, 02:18 PM

Well, I am sixty six years old. I do not really think my skiing has changed much. I skied Park City for over two weeks in January. I skied mostly bell to bell. I hit sixty six point three MPH on my birthday. I also got first tracks on a couple of bowls when they opened up. I do not ski long after they get tracked up, but I never did. I do spend more time worrying about injury, but so far I have been lucky. Moderate depression has plagued me my entire life. Now that my kids are grown and I am financially more secure, the lack of stress makes things much more manageable. I am still working and that helps keep my mind from spinning. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Having a dog helps, as well.

**The SnowShow** · 02-23-2025, 02:34 PM

At 50 I’m battling “runners knee” in my left knee and have been doing PT for it. It hasn’t helped enough to make me really confident in strong turns on really steep or really tight treed terrain, and that’s been a bummer. I just don’t trust my right turns, since I’ll get pain in the middle of the turn. Advil sometimes helps for 4 hours. I’m not sure if I should just bite the bullet and get a shot?
Anyway, I do treasure everyday out there and hope I can keep this up until at least 70. It’s too much of my life to stop skiing in this decade of life. That depresses me greatly.

**GSinister** · 02-23-2025, 03:04 PM

I did hit a tree while I was out west, So maybe my judgment is failing!

**bennymac** · 02-23-2025, 03:28 PM

Ski J

Glad to hear you’re hanging in there. Gratitude is not always easy but it’s clear you’re facing these challenges with grace.

Hope some sliding on snow is in your future sooner or later.

**hutash** · 02-23-2025, 04:23 PM

<p>
I have not been around much, I guess I got too busy being retired, but I will throw a few cents worth in here. If one starts feeling sorry for themselves, move to a community and have it burned down. Lose everything you own and learn a wonderful new perspective. As many of you know, my wife and I lost everything in 2017 in a California wildfire...(it's deja vu all over again). When you just lost everything, it gives one such a wonderful and clear perspective of what is important. It is people, pets, and what you enjoy in this world. Fortunately, all our pets were safe, and so many people around us were so wonderful that it reinforced my love for humanity. Everybody in our community can together and helped each other. Sure there was the odd report of looters and others trying to take some advantage, but they were .01%, if that, while the ones reaching out to help were 99.99%. Even around here, where we bust each other's chops on the regular, you guys really came through with love and support. A special shout out to Ski J, thanks Mang we are still sliding on all that gear. On the day of the fire, my wife and I sat in the local McD's parking lot try to see if our house was gone or not. We finally left after dark, still not knowing if we had a home. As I was driving out of the lot a homeless woman was sitting on the curb with the usual sort of cardboard sign, so while I had potentially nothing, I slipped her a $20, which put such a huge smile on her face since she knew she would eat for a few days, or for the more skeptical, drugs for a few days. Neither of us had anything, and yet we were both happy. My wife and I bounded back, rebuilt a beautiful house, are now both retired and traveling more, and spending time with our first grandchild. So, while life can be a pain in the ass, it is still wonderful. I am getting a bit long in the tooth at 67, and am slower on the skin track, but I still enjoy being in the mountains, or running with my dogs on the beach. Our kids don't "need" us, but we still are a wonderfully family even we live long distances apart (at least one moved back to California and is only 4 hours away instead of in Maryland). It is my family and friends, as well as our pets, plus just getting out into this beautiful, if at times fucked world that makes getting out of bed each such a joy. People matter, even those you have never met. People are a source for a $20, or a pair of skis, when you have nothing else. Pets love you unconditionally, and at least for me, being in nature has always been at my core. I have enjoyed so many great days on the snow with so many here, and hope I will meet and ski with many more. There will be a time, hopefully not for awhile yet, that I will be using a drool bucket and living in Depends, and all I will have is memories, but what fucking great memories. So, get out there, make some memories, a drop a $20 occasionally. You won't regret it.</p>

**yeahman** · 02-23-2025, 04:31 PM

Well said Hutash. Cheers

**XXX-er** · 02-23-2025, 04:52 PM

When I talk to the bartender at the craft brew she tells me her dad is 1 year older than me and he is in full care at the Bulkley Lodge and so you never know what life will deal you also i have 3 buds who are quads so there is someone who has it worse than you.

In any case I always laugh when i see the 50 on this thread becuz for me it was awesume good health/ no job/ people send money/ ski 75-100 days a year/ really get hard into ski touring/ bike/ paddle/ drink beer repeat.

Then at 63 blown ACL so I had to take a year off and also Covid changed EVERYTHING even tho I really had no $$$$$$$ hardships, I almost gave up skiing twice, I had to take a year off for surgey, the knee took 4 yrs to come back and i have to keep at it or backslide

Blow a knee at 63 and its tough to come back, when i badge in at the gym it sez 252 visits so I'm still at it but I don't feel the same, so I am willing to admit shit has changed but I am not too tired to continue

**mcski** · 02-23-2025, 04:53 PM

Hutash, I was thinking of your home last month during the LA fires and wondered how you were doing. Glad it’s good

**plugboots** · 02-23-2025, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by mcski

Hutash, I was thinking of your home last month during the LA fires and wondered how you were doing. Glad it’s good

Me too.
Thanks.

**hutash** · 02-23-2025, 06:00 PM

Thanks, all is well, for us at least. My cousin was evacuated for days, and was just a few blocks from it, but all is well there. I talked to several people who lost homes and helped talk them through what to expect and how things work with insurance, city and state bullshit, and how to deal with the loss and such.

While there is always a little PTSD with any new fire, we have dealt with it in a healthy manner, so we try and help others going through it now. Like I said, it is all about people helping people. We are social monkeys, so when we are at our worst, that is when we need others the most.