91-Year-Old "Greybeard" Becomes Oldest Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker After 359 Days and 71 Falls

Dale Sanders is 91 years old and just became the oldest person to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. The Kentucky native, known on the trail as“Greybeard,”finished at 11:40 p.m. on August 31 in Maine, wrapping up a 359-day journey that included 71 falls and a brief hospital stay for a pinched nerve. He started September 9, 2025 from Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, hiking south to Georgia first to avoid winter weather, then turning north toward Mount Katahdin.

This wasn’t his first time. Sanders thru-hiked the AT in 2017 at age 82, and he recently became the oldest person to complete a rim-to-rim hike at the Grand Canyon. Midway through this trek, he dealt with a family loss. His wife encouraged him to finish, so he backtracked to complete an unhiked section in the Great Smoky Mountains before continuing north. Along the way, trail angels supplied food and treats, including the caramel frappes he credits with keeping morale up.

His advice is refreshingly simple: exercise, and don’t stress about the doughnuts. Considering the Appalachian Trail Conservancy accepts sectioned thru-hikes finished within a single year, Sanders’359-day effort counts in full. What’s the longest hike you’ve ever attempted, and would you ever try a section of the AT?