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Dale Sanders sets age record by completing Appalachian Trail at 91
Dale Sanders, a 91-year-old hiker known as ‘Grey Beard’, has reclaimed the record for the oldest person to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. He reached the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine on August 31, 2026, after traversing approximately 3,529 kilometers.
The journey was physically grueling; Sanders reported falling 71 times during the trek, including six severe falls that required medical attention. He began his attempt in September 2025 in West Virginia, utilizing the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s rule that allows hikers to complete all sections in any order within a 365-day period.
Sanders previously held the age record in 2017 at age 82, but lost it in 2021 to M. J. Eberhart. Upon completing this latest trek, Sanders expressed gratitude to his support team and stated, ‘If it hurts, keep going.’
Entities
Appalachian Trail · Appalachian Trail Conservancy · Dale Sanders · M. J. Eberhart · Maine · Mount Katahdin
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sanders reached the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine on August 31, 2026. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Dale Sanders completed the Appalachian Trail at age 91. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Appalachian Trail is approximately 3,530 kilometers long. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sanders began his thru-hike in West Virginia in September 2025. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sanders is the oldest person to ever complete the Appalachian Trail. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sanders fell 71 times during his hike, including six serious falls. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de