PeterN wrote:
In my younger days, I walked about half way down the mule trail at the
Grand Canyon, and back up in one day. I carried an Exacta with an 50mm
f.2 Biotar, and six oranges. I could take much better images today with
my D800, but so what?
I guess it's a matter of perspective. "What if" is a pipe dream. To my
way of thinking looking forward to tomorrow is what counts. It would be
sad if I had no tomorrow. As the items in my bucket list decrease solely
because of loss of physical ability, I try to replace them with what I
hope are realistic items.

Indeed. I’ve enjoyed day-hiking for waterfall photos, but the trails are getting
shorter/easier, even after compensating with a lighter tripod to cut the pack weight.

Just as a simple example, I cannot go to the
landing sites to photograph the puffins, nor can I go to on a photo tour
of The Galapagos, but there are still places I can see in our National
parks and Forests,
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yjiq16lrw6ogiv6/Waterfall%20in%20Nantahala.jpg?dl=0
I can still drive along Route 66; etc.

Best advice we’ve ever gotten on travel was “do the hard stuff while you’re still able to”.
And while that does eventually mean needing to recognize that certain endeavors are
out of reach, it doesn’t mean it has to end as much as it changes. Don’t know if I’d trust
myself be fit enough to hike the Grand Canyon...and while those mules are technically
an alternative, I just don’t know...

-hh