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Not your average retiree

By Megan Poindexter / Sierra Star Correspondent

(Updated: Thursday, December 24, 2009, 12:25 PM)

Most people yearn for retirement in hopes that they have hit the point in their life when they can sit back and simply enjoy life.

Tony Krizan, however, is not the typical retiree.

At 70, he is pushing himself harder than ever in a sport that takes endurance, strength and intelligence: hiking.

"Hiking is therapy for me," Krizan said. "I love to tell people with interest in hiking about the joy and spirit of it." With hiking Krizan says there is "a feeling of one with nature" that comes with the territory.

That's not to say there aren't extreme risks involved. "Even the most experienced of hikers make mistakes," said Krizan.

"Hiking can be scary, but there isn't fear involved," Krizan said. "Instead it's a level of respect for Mother Nature." For Krizan, his passion for hiking started more than 30 years ago and has blossomed into something of a lifestyle.

"I like to refer to Mother Nature as my lady and I like to treat her as best I can," Krizan said. He also treats himself well.

"My diet consists primarily of fresh fruits and vegetables. I haven't eaten red meat in more than 40 years," said Krizan. He says his "vitality level" is always up due to his diet.

Although not much of a drinker, he does admit to an "attitude adjuster" from time to time.

Krizan, who looks much younger than what his drivers license reflects, was recently asked to show his ID by a restaurant waitress when ordering from the senior menu, thinking he was not old enough.

Krizan has always been physically active. In high school he played football, basketball and baseball. His dad, who was a catcher in semi-pro softball, taught him the game of baseball.

"I tried out for third base with the Cincinnati Reds farm team, but I could not afford to play on the $280 a month salary they were offering," said Krizan.

He did a lot of running -- 33 10Ks -- and swimming through his 50s, and got serious about hiking in 1978 as a new means of exercising.

"I'm not a fanatic about exercise, but I do it because it makes me feel good and healthy so I can enjoy my retirement," Krizan said. "I feel just as good now as I did when I was 20."

Right now, Krizan said that more than 70% of his hikes have been solo affairs ranging from a few hours to hiking adventures lasting seven days.

One of the biggest influences in Krizan's hiking passion was Tom Addison, who in his lifetime had more than 50 years of hiking experience.

The two met through a mutual friend and instantly bonded over their love for the wilderness.

Krizan said that due to Addison's knowledge and encouragement, he became hooked on the sport. "He taught me everything from how to find which way was north if I was ever stranded without my compass, to how to read a mountain," said Krizan.

"He was my hiking mentor," Krizan said. "He taught me how to survive in the wilderness." Addison passed away in 1996 at the age of 86.

Krizan pays homage to his dear friend by spreading his passion about hiking to various organizations in the community.

As a member of the local Kiwanis Club, he has scheduled hikes for members and also put together slideshows to share his knowledge about hiking and the beauty of his sport.

"It's one thing for people to read books and learn about nature," Krizan said. "But it's a completely different experience seeing something with the naked eye."

Krizan also has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America. He grew up as an active member of the Boy Scouts and saw the positive impact the organization made in his life.

"I try to give back as much as I can," Krizan said. "I think somehow every kid should be involved in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts because it offers them a choice to proceed in a given direction and Scouting keeps them on the right path." He often tells Scouts that many doors can open for them when they take up activities such as hiking.

"What I do now is give presentations any chance I get because I want to give others the chance to get active in hiking," Krizan said.

While Krizan resides in Oakhurst, much of him, including his two grown daughters and their families, still belongs in Ohio where he was born and raised.

He has climbed everything through Yosemite, endured the heat in Death Valley and twice has climbed Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states.

"There are just so many beautiful places, that it is unfortunate we won't live to see them all," he said.

However, Krizan is doing his best to get the word out about some of his favorite places with a book he plans to publish in the spring. The book will detail his hikes from the time he started hiking, through 2001.

It stops in 2001 because that is when Krizan began writing articles for the Sierra Star. All the articles give specifics of his hikes and include a little history of the area he is exploring. "I like to give people a sense of history about these places," Krizan said.

As for his own future, Krizan can't imagine the rest of his life without hiking.

With so many tremendous excursions already under his belt, Krizan would like to explore New Zealand and Alaska.

"To me, the definition of retirement is enjoying life," Krizan said. "And I'm enjoying it now more than ever."