Dale Sanders, 91, reclaims record as oldest Appalachian Trail hiker

Dale Sanders, a 91-year-old resident of Tennessee, has reclaimed the record as the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail. The journey spanned approximately 3,530 kilometers (2,193 miles), stretching from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.

Sanders, known by his trail name ‘Grey Beard’, previously held the record at age 82 in 2017 before it was surpassed by MJ Eberhart in 2021. To reclaim the title, Sanders completed the trek over several months, including a period at home to avoid winter weather. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy defines a thru-hike as completing all sections within a single year, allowing for pauses.

The expedition was physically demanding; Sanders reported falling 71 times during the journey, including a significant fall near the summit that caused intense pain in his thigh and knee. He successfully reached the peak of Mount Katahdin to complete the trek.