Don’t Let the Old In: Lessons From an 85-Year-Old Climber, the Bugaboos, and a Life Lived With Purpose

While spinning on my bike in the garage after a long school day, I stumbled into a video that sucked me in. It was an interview with an 85-year-old mountain climber who has lived more life than most of us will ever dream of—and who refuses to "let the old man in."

The video follows his journey into the Bugaboos, a stunning mountain range in the Canadian Rockies full of granite spires, glaciers, thin air, and moments that make you feel small in the best possible way. As he flips through old photos, recalls summits, and prepares for yet another climb with legs far older than his spirit, his message becomes impossible to ignore:

Age is real.

But attitude is everything.

The clip is full of quiet wisdom—gratitude, adventure, memory, friendship—and ends with a reading of The Train of Life, a beautiful poem about the people who share our journey. It’s sentimental, yes, but also a clear reminder that life is unpredictable, fragile, and too short to sleepwalk through.

But what struck me most wasn’t his age.

It was his purpose.

He wakes up each day with something to look forward to—an adventure, a conversation, a project, a memory to revisit. Something that keeps the light on inside. Something that keeps him moving.

And there’s something universal about that message. You can check out the video below.

Lessons for All of Us (Not Just for Those in Their 80s)

I know the video centers on someone older, but the lessons aren’t about age—they’re about mindset. Three things stood out to me:

1. Appreciation and gratitude matter more than we think.

Small joys—cold mountain air, old photos, a sunrise—are worth noticing and remembering.

2. We need adventure in whatever form we can manage.

Not everyone is climbing Bugaboo Spire, but everyone can find something that makes them feel alive again.

3. We need something meaningful to look forward to every single day.

A purpose. A project. A practice. A conversation. A goal. A curiosity.

Something that reminds us that we are still becoming.

It’s comforting to hear this from someone who has climbed more literal mountains than most of us ever will. He isn’t chasing accomplishments—he’s hunting for the moments that make him feel alive.

The Bugaboos: More Than Mountains

Part of the magic of the video comes from the setting. The Bugaboos are legendary: vertical granite towers, blue glaciers, and ridgelines that look unreal even in photographs. Climbers describe them as a “technicolor world,” and you can almost smell the cold air through the screen.

He talks about the huts built in the 1970s, the long climbs to high plateaus, and the countless memories stored in those peaks. He shares old National Geographic stories, jokes with his climbing partner Dan Griffith (a mountaineer who climbed the Seven Summits in seven months), and laughs about falling on the descent.

It’s not just nostalgia.

It’s a reminder that the places we go and the people we go with shape who we become.

What This Means for Teachers

It’s easy to think this story is only about mountain climbing or aging, but I actually think it applies directly to teaching.

Teaching is its own mountain range—full of steep climbs, rough weather, unexpected slips, and breathtaking views that make it all worth it. And the truth is:

Teachers need something to look forward to, too.

Teachers need adventure.

Teachers need purpose beyond the grind.

You can spend years climbing the mountain of your career, only to realize you’ve forgotten to enjoy any part of the journey. And the emotional “old man” can creep in—burnout, cynicism, overwhelm, exhaustion.

The lesson here?

Don’t let him in.

Keep a spark alive.

Find an interest, a habit, a ritual that brings energy into your day.

Look forward to small joys: a student conversation, a new idea, a healthier routine, a meaningful connection, a quiet moment before students arrive.

Teaching is hard.

But it’s also full of moments that remind us why we chose this in the first place.

We just need eyes sharp enough—and hearts open enough—to see them again.

A Final Thought

I’ll embed the video in this post so you can watch it, because the last minute is worth the entire journey. The climber reads a poem called “The Train of Life,” a reflection on the people who enter and exit our lives, the memories they leave with us, and the gratitude we should feel for every moment—especially the fleeting ones.

It’s a perfect closing because it reminds us that:

We don’t control the length of our journey.

But we do control how we show up for the ride.

Whether you’re climbing literal mountains, emotional mountains, or the many mountains of teaching—may you keep something in your life that lifts your eyes, fills your lungs, and sparks that inner “let’s go” energy.

Don’t let the old in.

Not yet.

Not today.

If You’re Looking for a Place to Keep Growing…

If this story resonated with you and you’re looking for a community that helps you stay energized, connected, and supported in the work you do each day, I’d love to invite you to join The STRONG Teacher’s Lounge.

It’s where teachers come together to share ideas, build healthier habits, support one another, and keep climbing the mountain—without feeling like they have to do it alone.

If you need a spark, a push, or just a group of people moving forward alongside you, you’ll find all of that inside the Lounge.

👉 Join The STRONG Teacher’s Lounge