"... the buff older gentleman puffing his way up one of the more strenuous climbs in New England?" There are no strenuous climbs in New England. Only a sissy would think so. Although, I suppose what you make of the terrain counts: Taking all day to hike up Mt. Washington, not strenuous. Running up Mt. Washington, strenuous. I regularly see stickers on the back of cars around here bragging about having driven up Mt. Washington. Pride in very small accomplishments is more common than it ought to be. IMHO