Couple Commemorates 70th Birthday In Memorable Fashion By Hiking In All 59 National Parks
We all have bucket lists, and sometimes the lists can seem quite long. As long as they might be, it’s never too late to cross off a few items! This Colorado couple is an excellent example of exactly that.
The aforementioned Colorado couple had a goal of hiking in all 59 National Parks in the United States. Amazingly, they were able to cross this item off their list before each of their 70th birthdays. Coincidentally enough, they also managed to accomplish this amazing feat before the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary.
Mike and Donna Guthrie, the couple of focus, made it a goal to visit each and every National Park in the US. In order to accomplish the task, they both had to hike at least five miles in each of the parks. Perhaps they didn’t know how many parks there actually were at the time!
The idea of hiking each National Park when they couple discussed their individual bucket lists on their 36 year anniversary. “One item on the list led to another, and by the time we were drinking our second bottle of wine, we were sketching out a plan of hiking at least five miles in all of the national parks by the time we both turned 70. At the time, that was seven years away,” Donna explains. “When we made the goal, we had no idea that the year 2016 would be the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service or how many parks there actually were.”
Recently, the couple finally completed their goal and scratched the item off their bucket list. Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the final park on their list. To commemorate the moment, the couple’s entire family decided to join them and celebrate the accomplishment.
“My five sisters and brothers came along with their children and grandchildren for a celebration of the grand finale of our project, not to mention it served as a beautiful family reunion,” Donna said.
Along the way, the couple has compiled many favorites in their travels. Some of them include receiving an astronomy lesson from a park ranger in Gunnison National Park and riding horses together in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. One of the best memories was witnessing the sunrise at the Arches National Park in Utah.
Besides all the great memories, the couple claimed they felt a great sense of pride in completing their goal. “There’s something special about setting a goal,” Donna said. “Then working towards it and completing the goal that makes both of us very happy, satisfied and energized for what’s next.”
Probably the best part of the Guthries’ extended journey was the fact that they were able to do it all together. Sharing incredible moments with loved ones makes them all the more special, and we can all take inspiration from the Guthries’ story.
Life is too short not to accomplish what we want to, and it’s even more memorable if we can do it with the ones we love.
