Never Too Late: Trekking 800 Kilometers on Nepal’s Great Himalaya Trail at 77 | Patti Shales Lefkos
Just Hyke: For Women Who Are Ready to Hike Their Way to Strength, Confidence, and Adventure · Melanie @ Just Hyke
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Show Notes
At 77 years old, Patti Shales Lefkos trekked 800 kilometers across Nepal’s Great Himalaya Trail in 75 days. In this episode, we explore hiking at altitude after 60, why older hikers may actually perform better at elevation, and how endurance — not speed — builds lifelong resilience.
If you’ve ever wondered whether adventure has an expiration date, this conversation proves it doesn’t.
Patti shares how she trained for high altitude trekking, the mindset tools that kept her moving on long Himalayan days, and why consistency matters more than intensity. From VHS step workouts and StairMaster training to cross-country skiing and kilometer-by-kilometer mental wins, her preparation was simple — but powerful.
We also talk about purposeful travel and how a devastating earthquake in Nepal led Patti and her husband to build schools, support village education, and form lasting relationships through nonprofit work.
This episode is for hikers 50+, women building strength, and anyone ready to take one step closer to their own “Sidewalk to Summit.”
In This Episode We Discuss:
• Trekking Nepal’s Great Himalaya Trail at age 77 • Training for altitude after 60 • Why endurance over speed works better at elevation • Mental strategies for long-distance hiking • Real trail challenges: foggy passes, creek falls, and setbacks • Alternatives to Everest Base Camp (Annapurna, Manaslu, Tsum Valley) • Purposeful adventure travel and giving back • Building resilience through movement
Key Takeaways
• Set the dream goal far out — then reverse engineer it • Train specifically for your terrain (add stairs if you live on flat ground) • Slow, steady pacing reduces altitude risk • Make movement enjoyable so you stay consistent • Know your map, your gear, and your exit plan
Guest: Patti Shales Lefkos
Patti is a former inner-city teacher and principal from Vancouver who began a new chapter at 60 as an author, journalist, adventure traveler, and humanitarian. She is the author of Nepal, One Day at a Time and Grounded by Granite, with a new book on resilience and the Great Himalaya Trail forthcoming.
Learn more: PattiShalesLefkos.com
About the Just Hyke Podcast
The Just Hyke Podcast empowers women — especially 50+ — to build confidence, strength, and trail wisdom through movement, mindset, and meaningful adventure.
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