At 91, Dale Sanders has completed another remarkable Appalachian Trail hike. Known as “Grey Beard,” Sanders reached Mount Katahdin in Maine after spending 359 days on the trail.
His second completion included 71 falls, a short hospital stay, family loss, and several changes to his route. The journey also made him the oldest person to complete the famous trail.
A Second Appalachian Trail Hike
Sanders was born in the Kentucky backwoods in 1935, before the Appalachian Trail, or AT, was completed. He first hiked the entire trail in 2017 at age 82. That experience left him wanting to return.
He began his latest hike on September 9 last year in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Instead of following the trail in one direction, Sanders used a different plan. He headed south toward Georgia first because he wanted to follow warmer weather.
After stopping for the winter, he returned to Harpers Ferry and began working north toward Maine. The unusual route added several backtracking sections, but it still met the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s definition of a thru-hike. The organization allows a thru-hike to take place in sections, with different start and stop points, as long as it is completed within one year.
Falls Changed the Journey
The long hike became harder after Sanders suffered several falls. The combined effects eventually led to a hospital stay in June, when doctors treated him for a pinched nerve.
At the same time, his mother-in-law died, so Sanders returned home to Tennessee. The pause could have ended the hike, but his wife encouraged him to continue.
He later returned to the trail and completed an unfinished section in the Great Smoky Mountains. From there, he went back to his northern stopping point and continued toward Maine.
Sanders finally reached the summit of Mount Katahdin at 11:40 p.m. on August 31.
Help From Trail Angels
The journey also brought Sanders support from people he met along the way. He says many “trail angels” provided food, supplies, and small treats during difficult stretches.
“When people are taking care of you and bringing you caramel frappes on the trail, the rocks don’t matter,” Sanders told the Associated Press.
His relaxed approach to food also fits his advice about staying active. Speaking to the Stein Institute for Research on Aging, he said, “it’s OK to eat doughnuts if you also exercise.”
Sanders has spent years hiking across the country. He also recently became the oldest person to complete a rim-to-rim hike across the Grand Canyon.
Why Sanders Keeps Hiking
For Sanders, hiking remains closely tied to spending time outdoors. “I love the outdoors. When I’m in the woods and the Sun is shining, I’m in my best mood,” he said.
He also told The New York Times, “I’m not knocking the gym, but you have to get outside.” The newspaper accompanied him during a hike up Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire.
His appearance has also become familiar to fellow hikers. With his gray beard, wide-brimmed sunhat, and trekking poles, Sanders earned the nickname “Grey Beard.” Some supporters have compared his look to Gandalf from “The Lord of the Rings.”
Despite the setbacks, Sanders completed his second Appalachian Trail hike on August 31. He finished at Mount Katahdin, the trail’s northern endpoint, and raised his hands toward the sky in thanks to the Creator for giving him the strength to continue.
At 91, his journey shows that age did not prevent him from taking on one of America’s best-known long-distance trails. His 359-day effort included difficult terrain, repeated falls, a hospital stay, and personal loss, yet he still reached the finish line in Maine.