90-year-old pilot, hiker scales Bear Paw Mountains

After losing his sense of purpose following the death of his wife in 2013, Everett Tyrrel said he began to get his purpose back thanks to fitness trainer Tami Nystrom of Physical Therapy Down Under and Fitness Center in Havre - including hiking miles of trail in Beaver Creek Park and other spots in the Bear Paw Mountains.

"For three days a week for two years, I had Tami as a trainer and mainly, for me, was as a listener. After my wife passed away, I needed someone to talk to and she was there. I sorta had her trapped, but anyway, she listened to me. We became friends and I still go to the gym twice a week," Tyrrel said.

Tyrell, 90, is no stranger to picking up new hobbies and skills later in life. He is still an active pilot with a private license and commercial certificate. He has been flying for nearly 51 years. However, he said he didn't enter into aviation until his 30s.

Part of the reason he joined the gym was to be able to pass the physical examination to keep his pilot's license.

"Basically, after 40, you need to get in the gym and do some strength training or do it at home," Nystrom said. "We worked on that. The hiking stuff just happened this past summer and that was just because, you know, we became friends and he was doing so well using the gym and utilizing all of the equipment here and getting himself well."

Tyrrel said he passed the examination with no problems whatsoever. After that goal had been reached, Nystrom suggested he start hiking to keep up with exercise and to get a change of scenery outside of the fitness center. The duo headed for the Bear Paw Mountains.

"We've done every trail in the Bear Paws plus the east side of Baldy. I've taken other people, not a lot of people, but I've taken other people up and done some of the easy trails with them also," Tyrell said.

"(Nystrom) knew through our history of training, how much I was capable of doing, so we didn't just run up these mountains. On occasion, we took our time going and completing a hike. That's the way we did it. We didn't rush into it to try to break any records, we did it for the joy of doing it being together as friends," Tyrrel added.

After enjoying their first hike together, Nystrom suggested hiking new trails. Together the pair have hiked the Bear Paw Nature Trail, Mount Otis, Baldy and the Rotary Loop Trail.

"Mount Otis is a mile up and a mile down, so I guess that's two miles. The Nature Trail, we probably put in about six miles there. Baldy was probably about a five-mile hike. That was a big one, and it's kind of rough country that we're not on a trail. We had a little bit but then we're basically in the woods hiking there. It was a little crazy thinking like, oh, if something happens, we're kind of away from civilization back in here," Nystrom said.

"The Rotary Loop trail we did a couple times. That is three miles around that loop, 3.1 or something. We did the short one once and then we did the long one on that one too," she added.

Tyrrel said looking back and realizing all he had done by hiking the Bear Paws was an emotional experience.

Nystrom said they are making plans for the summer.

"I think anytime you accomplish something that you enjoy doing and it's beneficial to you, I think that's great. It happened, for me, to be with friends and accomplish what we did. I think that's wonderful," Tyrrel said.

Tyrrel also said he hopes to travel the U.S. and Canada with a very important person in his life, his niece Cynthia Fuller.

"Her and I have traveled the United States and Canada ever since, practically since my wife passed away and I've enjoyed every minute of that. So, between Down Under and Tami and my niece, Cynthia, I've been able to lead a wonderful life," Tyrrel said.