91-Year-Old Hikers Completes Rigorous Appalachian Trail

Dale Sanders, a 91-year-old hiker from Tennessee, has successfully completed the over-2,000-mile Appalachian Trail, reclaiming the record for the oldest person to do so.

The Rigorous Journey and Falls

By his own count, Dale Sanders fell a total of 71 times during this grueling hike, including six hard falls. One of these falls resulted in a brief hospital stay, while another occurred just 200 meters from the finish line.

Trail Length and Route

Stretching between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, the trail has a total length of 2,193 miles. According to Appalachian Trail Conservancy rules, a thru-hike can be completed within a year with breaks taken along the way.

Hiking Details and the Summit

Starting his hike in West Virginia on September 6, 2025, Sanders took short breaks and completed his journey at Maine's highest peak, where he stopped to pray by the summit sign.

Previous Records and Achievements

Sanders first broke the Appalachian Trail record in 2017 at the age of 82, though the title was taken from him four years later by his 83-year-old friend, MJ Eberhart. Sanders also holds numerous other records, including becoming the oldest person to canoe the entire Mississippi River in 2022.