Linda Shannon-Hills
In a world that often measures age in limitations, this group has chosen a different metric: miles walked together. Week after week, they lace up their boots and head into the hills, defying stereotypes about aging. As they prepare to start their hike, they joke, adjust their walking sticks, and argue about which trail has the best view. Their story is not just about hiking—it’s about friendship, purpose, and the quiet rebellion of refusing to slow down.
The tradition began in 2000 in Summit County, Colorado, when neighbors Niel Christensen, Lowell Graves, Dick Rosenthal, Roger Paluska, and Tom Hand decided to start hiking together every Thursday in the Rocky Mountains. Their outings ranged from five to ten miles, and during winter they traded hiking boots for skis at nearby resorts.
Calling themselves The Creekers, the group climbed eight different 14,000-foot peaks.
As time passed, the challenges of life at 9,000 feet led several members to explore Arizona as a retirement destination. Eventually, three settled in Oro Valley while two moved to SaddleBrooke Ranch near Oracle.
Once reunited in Arizona, they revived their Thursday hiking tradition. Soon, additional members joined, including Jeff Wise, Phill Cooper, Doug Brown, Greg Kauffman, John Collin, Mary Johnson, and Dana Covert. Today, the group includes hikers in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Their weekly hikes usually cover three to five miles through the Catalina and Tortolita Mountains, occasionally venturing to places such as Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, Chiricahua National Monument, Picacho Peak State Park, and Madera Canyon.
Niel, now 86, has carefully tracked their adventures, which total roughly 200 to 250 hiking miles each year.
“We’re not old,” he says with a laugh. “We’re just well-seasoned.”
Hiking is only part of the tradition. Midway through each trek, the group pauses for what they call “vittles and wine.” Members share cheeses, olives, nuts, cookies, sausages, and other treats while enjoying the scenery and each other’s company. Niel organizes the weekly trail, wine assignments, and designated drivers.
At the end of the hike, the group heads to La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant in Oro Valley for nachos and beer while reflecting on the day’s adventure and their good fortune to remain active and connected.
One favorite outing is Aravaipa Canyon each fall, where they hike through shallow water beneath colorful cottonwoods and sycamores while photographing migratory birds and desert wildlife.
During Tucson’s hottest months, they wisely move their hikes to the cooler elevations of Mount Lemmon.
Staying active during the week is part of the routine. Niel runs five miles daily on a community nature trail, while the others maintain their own fitness habits.
In recent years, the hikers adopted a new name for themselves: WINOs with a HIKING problem.
With the Santa Catalina and Tortolita mountains as their playground, they continue to challenge assumptions about aging. Their story is a reminder that life is best measured not by years, but by the adventures and friendships we share.