Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders, 91, Becomes Oldest Person to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail

91-year-old Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders completed the Appalachian Trail today at 11:44 a.m., reclaiming his title as the oldest person to ever thru-hike the 2,190-mile trail.

Finishing the trail in 359 days, Sanders closed out a journey that officially began on September 6, 2025. However, his history with the Appalachian Trail’s age record stretches back several years: this attempt was a carefully planned campaign to reclaim the record he once held before encouraging his friend to take it from him four years ago.

Grey Beard’s Unconventional Hiking Strategy

Sanders tackled the trail using a non-traditional flip-flop route. Setting off from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, he began hiking south through the autumn colors toward Georgia last autumn before taking the winter off. He resumed hiking this spring with a target pace of 12 miles per day with one rest day per week. 

During his first AT age record in 2017, Sanders had attempted to leapfrog using a van, but severe digestive issues caused his body weight to drop to 135 pounds. For this attempt, he upgraded his support structure to a truck camper labeled “Base Camp on Wheels.” A rotating crew of volunteer drivers moved the vehicle from gap to gap, preparing hot meals and managing daily logistics.

When possible, Grey Beard opted to sleep in his Base Camp on Wheels. Photo: Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders

Injury During the Home Stretch

Just 54 miles shy of Katahdin and 147 total miles from completing the AT, Sanders found himself in the hospital in Millinocket, Maine earlier this month due to complications from a fall in July.

However, after an overnight in the hospital and a brief trip home to recuperate, Sanders was cleared to continue hiking. He returned to trail, where he first finished out a section in the Smoky Mountains before returning to Maine.  

Friendship and Rivalry on the Trail

Sanders set the AT thru-hiker age record the first time in 2017 at age 82 and held it for four years, until M.J. “Nimblewill Nomad” Eberhart broke it in 2021, then aged 83. Sanders not only cheered Eberhart on at the time, but he also hiked some days alongside him to keep him from quitting.

Now 87, Eberhart was among those steering Sanders’ truck camper for the first 800 miles was M.J. “Nimblewill Nomad” Eberhart, now 87.  When Sanders decided to take the record back, Eberhart stepped up to help break his own record from the driver’s seat.

Sanders welcomed impromptu trail company along the way. Hikers decades his junior, such as 29-year-old Nicholas Loukides in New Hampshire, noted that covering miles alongside Grey Beard was a highlight of their trip.

Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders and M.J. “Nimblewill Nomad” Eberhart. Photo: Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders

Making It Official for Guinness

While thousands of hikers complete the Appalachian Trail each year, Sanders set up his attempt to satisfy strict Guinness World Records guidelines, a level of verification rarely attempted on the AT outside of Fastest Known Time efforts like Karel Sabbe’s 2018 record.

To meet the requirements, Sanders collected written witness statements from personal contacts on and off the trail, a daily physical logbook, continuous GPS records from a SPOT satellite tracker, and time-stamped video evidence along the route. Once submitted, Sanders hopes for Guinness to confirm his status as the oldest documented thru-hiker in trail history.

The Anchor at Home

Sanders grew up on a Kentucky tobacco farm, finding an outlet in sports after dealing with school bullies. He later spent 37 years working for the Navy, retiring in 2002 after his final posting at Naval Air Station Millington in Tennessee.

Though he originally wanted to retire to Florida, his wife, Meriam, wanted to remain near the tight-knit Filipino community at her church in Millington, where she could hold Bible studies and pray in Tagalog. They made a deal: if Meriam had a permanent home in Tennessee, Sanders had the freedom to pursue his adventures. Meriam describes her role simply: “I’m the hidden nail that holds the building together.”

Grey Beard and his wife, Meriam celebrate his 90th birthday. Photo: Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders

Looking Ahead

Even at 91, Sanders has previously said he has no interest in slowing down. As he noted before setting off, setting records keeps his competitive spirit sharp, saying “I’m not going to stop unless physically I simply cannot do it anymore.”

Featured image: Grey Beard Team USA Appalachian Trail