Climbing mountains barefoot at age 62 – yes, barefoot

Kenneth Posner, aka “Barefoot Ken,” has what he calls an interesting project — a goal of climbing 1,000 mountains barefoot before he’s too old. Yes, he says “barefoot.”

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Posner, who is now 62, first got involved in barefoot running about 10 years ago after reading Chris MacDougall’s bestseller “Born to Run,” which suggests that running barefoot could help prevent injuries. However, what began as a pragmatic, health-related decision soon led to a surprising discovery — just how much joy Posner finds in going barefoot.

“Running, hiking, climbing mountains, and all of the above when barefoot brings me an enormous sense of connection with nature, and with that comes deep joy and abundant energy, which I bring back to my day job as a corporate worker, as well as to friends, family, and community causes,” Posner explained. “Also, going barefoot is really good for balance and agility, plus it’s easier on knees and other body parts, although you do have to learn to watch where you step.”

Posner’s First Barefoot Climb

In 2015, Posner tried his first barefoot climb up Peekamoose Mountain in New York’s Catskills. At first, he said it was very awkward, as he tiptoed through fragments of rock, feeling very vulnerable and exposed. However, his feelings evolved as the journey continued.

“By the time I reached the top, I’d encountered gravel, dirt, big rocks to clamber up, cool boreal mud and moss,” he recalled. “It was quite a tapestry of different textures. Afterwards, I reflected that the sensations from my feet had created a whole new layer of experience, and helped me feel so much more connected to the forest, instead of merely passing through. The intensity and connection were so powerful, I was immediately hooked.”

Why 1,000 Climbs?

Posner just got back from New Mexico and Colorado where he did 10 peaks ranging from 10,000 to 14,000 feet and, as of this writing, has completed 566 barefoot mountain climbs. But where did he come up with the goal of 1,000?

Posner thrives on structured projects with long-term goals, which he said energize him. The idea of 1,000 climbs came to him a couple of years ago, on a dark December day, when he started thinking he needed something special to work on. He recalled he’d been having a lot of fun with barefoot hiking and thought it was a great idea to tie it to an audacious goal.

“Also, I thought this would be a way to interest more people in barefoot hiking, as it would help them see that the sport is more feasible and accessible than conventional wisdom would suggest,” he said.

But that’s not all. Posner also believed that having a multi-year project would force him to be smart about the aging process and manage himself thoughtfully to avoid unnecessary stress and risk.

Posner’s Most Difficult Climb So Far

That’s not to say that Posner hasn’t met challenges. His most difficult climb so far was Superstition Peak 5067, outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

“It started with a flat trail, but it was totally covered in sharp gravel,” he recalled. “Then it got very steep, and the trail wound through cactus forests with barrel cacti and cholla and saguaro lining the trail — no room for mistakes.” Even so, he admitted with a laugh that he stepped on a cactus at the top.

The biggest challenge, however, came during the descent, he said, when he slipped and irritated his meniscus, which he had injured a few weeks earlier on the StairMaster.

“I had to limp the whole way down,” he said. “But I was treated to the most fantastic sunset I’ve seen in my life, which seemed to be a perfect validation of my project, even if there are bound to be challenges from time to time.”

Not Everyone is Supportive

When asked what other people think about his barefoot climbing, Posner replied, “Some people get triggered by barefoot, but most people think it’s cool and are very supportive. When on the trails or running in races, I get a constant stream of compliments — ‘respect,’ ‘bad-ass,’ ‘hardcore,’ ‘warrior,’ ‘next level’ and the like.”

As for his friends’ reactions, Posner said there’s no problem there. “Friends are great because they accept you for who you are. Now my friends tease me if they see me in shoes!”

Posner added that he believes there’s potential for more people to enjoy going barefoot.

“It doesn’t have to be running or mountain-climbing, it could be walking around a park — think of it as a variation on forest bathing or soft hiking,” he suggested. “A few friends have tried it and enjoyed it. I’ve also led a few workshops and am starting to get [a] good turn-out.”

Why Posner Believes in Chasing Extraordinary Goals

Posner recommended being open to what he refers to as the “magic, mystery, wonder and energy of the world.” He said if you have something extraordinary you’re thinking of, and it creates energy in your mind, do it.

“Now, you may need to develop plans and set goals and potentially deal with pushback from people who think you should focus 100% on job and family,” he explained. “However, by accessing the energy and excitement, you set an example for other people who may want to do the same thing — and your example could give them courage to do so. So, go for it!”

But what about people who are hesitant to take the leap?

“I would tell someone who is hesitating to spend some time looking around,” Posner said. “Study examples of what older people are doing. See if you can find a story that excites you. My philosophy is ‘run towards the excitement’ because life’s too short to sit around in a funk. If you don’t want to run, try taking a few baby steps in a new direction and see what you learn.”

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