The 91-year-old Appalachian Trail record holder Dale 'Grey Beard' Sanders completed his trek at 91, after falling 71 times; he persisted with grit and a simple stance: keep hiking.
Dale Sanders has completed the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail, finishing atop Maine’s highest peak after starting in West Virginia on Sept. 6, 2025. He has reclaimed the record for the oldest person to complete the trail, despite multiple falls and health scares along the way; his journey has drawn thousands of social-media followers and support from “trail angels.”