At 91, 'Grey Beard' reclaims record as oldest to complete 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail
Dale Sanders, 91, has reclaimed his record as the oldest person to complete the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail, nine years after first setting the record. Despite 71 falls and a hospital scare, Sanders completed the hike from Georgia to Maine, thanking his support team at the summit. He previously held the record at 82 before it was surpassed by an 83-year-old.
Why it matters
This story highlights human resilience, determination, and the breaking of age barriers in extreme physical challenges, inspiring others to pursue ambitious goals regardless of age.
Dale Sanders has reclaimed his record as the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail after hiking 2,193 miles (3,530 kilometres) across the eastern United States at the age of 91.The Tennessee man, whose trail name is “Grey Beard”, counted 71 falls during his latest attempt, including six he described as particularly hard. One resulted in a brief hospitalisation, while another happened just 200 yards from the finish, as reported by AP.Despite the setbacks, Sanders refused to let the falls permanently derail his journey along the iconic trail, which stretches from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.He completed the hike on Monday at the summit of Maine’s highest peak.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in