Hiking in Missoula, Montana

Steven Saslow retired from The Blackstone Group after helping build what was said to be the world’s largest hedge fund of fund for discretionary investing. Currently serving as a consultant and mentor at Blackstone, Steven Saslow has more time to travel out West and head to his favorite hiking destinations, including those around Missoula, Montana.

Located where three rivers converge, Missoula is ringed by seven wilderness areas in the northern Rockies, ideal for outdoor lovers. The city is noted for its trout fishing, and visitors can kayak and raft as well.

While the area offers numerous trail options, one way for hikers to get started is to take the Riverfront Trail, which can be accessed from downtown Missoula or the University of Montana (UM). The paved, flat path travels along the Clark Fork River on its south side, and after around one and a half miles, it becomes the Kim Williams Trail, a gravel path in between the river and Mount Sentinel. This trail is around two and a half miles and leads to other trails.

Another popular trail is the “M” Trail. Starting from the UM campus, there is a steep three-quarters-of-a-mile climb up Mount Sentinel, were a huge white “M” sign is located. Another mile takes the hiker to the top of the mountain, which offers a breathtaking view of the Clark Fork River, the Missoula Valley, and the remote mountains.

The Importance of Physical Fitness in Retirement

After having created New York’s Blackstone Group’s first in-house hedge fund in 2002, Steven Saslow retired 2007, but continues to act as a consultant and mentors students and young professionals interested in a career in finance. In his free time away from his work at Blackstone, Steven Saslow is passionate about physical fitness, and stays active through yoga, pilates, hiking, and climbing, and acts as an athletics and weightlifting coach.

While retirement offers an excellent opportunity to take the time to start working on an active fitness regime, many people over age 60 don’t exercise at all - around 30 percent tend to be sedentary in this age range in the US. As it turns out, physical decline as we age may be much more the fault of not exercising than it is the natural process of getting older. Exercise in retirement can help prevent muscle and bone density loss, and improve balance which can help prevent falls.

Exercise can also help with a range of other issues like pain, chronic disease, and stress, and an active lifestyle can contribute to a healthy social life, which is especially important in retirement. With extra free time and the loss of social opportunities that were provided by daily work, fitness classes or community center gyms can provide a space for retirees to meet other people and enjoy their workout, which will almost certainly to lead to better physical and mental health.