This book is about Bob Sitter discovering hiking, climbing, and mountaineering in his retirement years and, consequently, finding health, fitness, companionship, challenge, and fulfillment. His story encourages baby boomers entering retirement to seek activities that are close to nature where they can explore and learn as they discover the benefits of the physical, mental, and social dimensions. Bob says that a great retirement includes some hard work, a little discomfort, a good deal of passion, and a lot of fulfillment.

Why did I write this book?

For 10 years I have been thinking and talking about writing about the “dimensions and pay-offs” of hiking and climbing as an outdoor sport. After many discussions with fellow hikers and climbers, I had identified eight separate areas which I thought would make eight chapters in a “how to” mountaineering book. Then my wife Sue, and her bridge partner/novelist Michele Carter, pushed me to look at the bigger picture: that is, the story of my early years; how my career led to being the CEO of a major B.C. forest products company; how I started to learn to be a mountaineer in my mid-50s and then climbed 41 summits in one year in my mid-60s; and how in my mid-70s I continue to hike and climb mountains year round.

Thus, the scope grew. Michele’s urging led me to believe my whole story is worth telling to a world of baby-boomers approaching retirement and wondering how retirement years can be healthier as well as exciting and fulfilling.

What would I like people to get out of the book?

I want people to realize that it’s never too late in life to get in great physical and mental shape and to get out in nature to start the rich learning experiences that lead to gratifying retirement years. Feeling good, sustaining health, nurturing friendships, learning about ecology, geology, botany, all parts of learning to hike and climb, are the ingredients to a challenging and satisfying life after work.

This book illustrates how you can succeed in a setting that presents challenges and rewards as well as exciting opportunities to expand your horizons and stir your heart. I invite you to share in my journey into this spectacular environment where the mountains not only instill a sense of wonder but also humility in the face of nature’s magnificence.