50 Bucket List Things Before I Turn 50 [2023]

Top 50 life experiences before you turn 50

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I have a lot of goals for my life and until recently I kept some of them in a book written in tiny cramped writing. Then I saw a friend checking off items on a 40 before they’re 40 list. It really got me thinking about my own life goals. Since I was already close to 40, I figured I would look ahead to when I turned 50.

To hold myself accountable, I decided to post my list of 50 bucket list things before I turn 50 here on my blog. Yes, I am fully aware of just how lofty some of these goals are. I am also aware that some of you will think it’s not possible. That’s ok. I’m doing this for me.

Each year I will update this list, crossing off the items I completed that year. So, you can see my progress and so I can see my progress.

50 things before you're 50
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

So, let’s do this. Here is my 50 bucket list things before I turn 50.

  1. O trail in Patagonia
  2. Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
  3. 7 summits (0/7-8)
    1. Kilimanjaro
    2. Mount Elbrus
    3. Aconcagua
    4. Denali
    5. Everest
    6. Vinson
    7. Kosciuszko
    8. Puncak Jaya (extra for good measure and due to the controversy)
  4. Hike the Kumano Kodo
  5. See the monarchs in Mexico
  6. Bike around Ireland
  7. Hike Hadrian’s Wall
  8. Visit all US National Parks (13/63)
  9. Visit all Canadian National Parks (5/38 left)
  10. Island hop in Thailand
  11. See orangutans and other wildlife in Borneo
  12. Visit Komodo island
  13. See the great wildlife migration in Kenya/Tanzania
  14. Do the trail run in Switzerland
  15. Slovenia’s green route
  16. Hike to Machu Picchu
  17. Hike the Camino
  18. Hike and dive in the Galapagos
  19. Hike in the Isle of Skye
  20. Rickshaw Run in Sri Lanka
  21. Hike the John Muir Trail and summit Mount Whitney
  22. Hike the Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon (September or early spring)
  23. Visit Norway (hiking)
  24. Visit Iceland (adventure race or Laugavegar trail)
  25. Eat at the French Laundry
  26. Dive with sharks
  27. Go trekking in New Zealand
  28. Visit Angor Wat in Cambodia
  29. See the northern lights
  30. See the Amazon Rainforest
  31. Run 50 ½ marathons/marathons/ultras (6/50)
  32. Try sandboarding
  33. Visit Bulgaria to see the salt flats, flamingos, stars at night
  34. Climb Chimborazo Mountain
  35. Go ziplining (because I am terrified of heights and I didn’t take the opportunity when it was offered to me in Nicaragua)
  36. Walk on the great wall of China
  37. Hike the Annapurna Trail
  38. Become fluent in French
  39. See the 7 Natural Wonders of the World (0/7)
    1. Aurora Borealis
    2. Harbor of Rio de Janeiro.
    3. Grand Canyon.
    4. Great Barrier Reef
    5. Mount Everest.
    6. Victoria Falls
    7. Parícutin, Mexico
  40. Become a board-certified wildlife vet through the ACZM
  41. Take the glass roofed train through the Canadian Rockies
  42. Complete the explorer’s grand slam
  43. Have a book on the NY Times best seller’s list
  44. Read the entire works of William Shakespeare (4 books left)
  45. Learn to sail
  46. Try ice climbing
  47. Participate in an adventure race
  48. Get my Wilderness Medicine certification
  49. Live off the grid for a week (using primitive survival skills)
  50. Learn how to make soap

Summary of 2023

I started crossing off adventures this year, just shy of my 40th birthday. Personally, I think I am off to a great start and have big plans for 2024 (stay tuned for that). This past year I visited Great Smoky Mountain National Park, ran 1 ultra, 2 full marathons and 2 half marathons, I learned to sail, I learned to make soap and I got my Wilderness First Responder certification.

Bucket list goals

50 marathons before I turn 50Learn a new skill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I continue to study for the ACZM board exam, which I intend to sit in 2025, I have been diligently writing my first fiction novel, and have started making plans for next years races and climbing courses (since I need to have done other climbing before, I can sign up for the ice climbing class).

Some of you may not think that I accomplished a lot, but I also moved across the country, we bought a house, and got married and I am still currently working full time in my clinical job. We went on a couple hiking trips, spent time exploring our new city and spent a week in the eastern sierras hiking and snowboarding. Based on what I have achieved in this very full year (of which I have nothing but gratitude for), I truly think I can do all the things on this list and I will continue to check them off one-by-one. All it takes is that first step and you can do anything.

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