r/interestingasfuck • u/Kymmieuwu • 18h ago
Hiker, 91, becomes oldest person to complete grueling Appalachian Trail
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u/aravindkumarj 18h ago
Omg, we ran into him at Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) on 08/22 morning on a hike. He was with some hikers and his friend told us that he had 76 miles left to finish hiking the Appalachian trail. What an achievement!
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u/EACshootemUP 17h ago
Yeah I hoped he’d return after his hospitalization; man is a BEAST. What a baddasss!
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u/ignatious__reilly 17h ago edited 17h ago
As someone who has also hiked the Appalachian Trail, I genuinely can’t comprehend how a 91 year old man could accomplish this.
Truly, this is utterly remarkable in every possible way. The AT is not easy. It’s grueling, physically demanding, mentally exhausting, and fucking long. It takes a hell of a lot out of you.
To do all of that at 91 years old is just mind blowing. What an incredible accomplishment.
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u/Original-Rush139 16h ago edited 16h ago
mentally exhausting
When my aunt was through hiking it, she came into town to resuply and learned that there was a serial killer who had murdered several people in a lean to she had slept in a couple days later. She noped the fuck out and never finished.
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u/ignatious__reilly 16h ago
I know exactly who you’re talking about. That happened a couple of years ago. They caught the guy, but he killed two people on the AT. His trail name was “Sovereign.”
That guy had been acting crazy for weeks. Everyone on the trail knew something was very, very wrong. And then one night he attacked people in their tents and butchered two of them with a knife. He’s in prison now.
I’m pretty experienced in the backcountry and have done a lot of serious hiking in my life. Whenever people ask me what the scariest thing on the trail is, my answer is always the same……other humans. Not bears, not mountain lions, not coyotes. Other humans. Always.
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u/ironicthesameplaceim 15h ago
Here’s another AT killer. Interesting and short wiki
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u/tahomadesperado 15h ago
Tries to do homicide round 2, 12 years after being released and 2 after probation ended. I am kinda curious if they have tied any other potential murders to him
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u/K-Uno 8h ago
12 years seems too short for 2 murders
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u/ironicthesameplaceim 7h ago
I agree, was shocked to see he was released so quickly. People get that kind of time for drug charges.
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u/Horknut1 3h ago
I'm not sure its in Walk in the Woods, but somewhere someone mentions that the AT goes from Maine to Georgia, drawing a line through the country. Pretty much if you draw a line all the way through the country anywhere, you're going to hit a couple serial killers hunting grounds.
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u/rollerroman 1h ago
You are about 100 times more likely to be a victim of assault off the trail, in any random place in America, then you are on the trail. The AT is a remarkably safe, to state that other people are the scariest things says more about you than it does the trail. Source, I through hiked the AT in 2001 and Google.
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u/Striking-Ad-6815 17h ago
The timing and logistics too
It doesn't matter how rugged you are if there isn't much water around
IIRC you can't hunt off the trail anymore in some areas, so you have to make food stops as well
If you do hunt it can only be out of hunger, and you can't waste any part of the animal or it is "wanton waste"
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u/ignatious__reilly 17h ago
Exactly. And the actual hiking is only part of what makes the AT so difficult. Anyone with experience in that world knows the grind doesn’t stop when you finish walking for the day.
You’re constantly thinking about water, food, mileage, weather, where you’re going to camp, etc. Then you have to set up camp, cook, clean, filter water, organize your gear, pack everything back up, and do it all over again the next morning. And then repeat that cycle for months.
It’s the cumulative grind of all of it that makes a thru hike so fucking hard. It’s not just walking 2,000+ miles. It’s essentially living out of a backpack and managing every aspect of your existence while doing it. And at 91 years old, that makes this accomplishment even more incredible.
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u/jrice138 4h ago
To me all that stuff is so much easier than normal life tho. You don’t have to think about anything that’s not in your backpack(which shouldn’t be much.) And finding water and all that is very simple. You don’t really have to think about mileage all that much, especially when you don’t really have any thing else to take away your attention.
The physical and mental part of the actual hiking was very hard, but the rest of that stuff is a breeze.
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u/Sunshinetrooper87 13h ago
Aye, Gordon Ramsay checking on you from the trees. Eat those giblets and nutsack!
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u/EACshootemUP 16h ago
Oh yeah man I watch the big thru-hiking vids all the time on YouTube.
MADDDDNESSSS that this guy pulled it off even for being as big of a legend as he is!!!
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u/universalsa 15h ago
Do you have any channel recomendations?
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u/EACshootemUP 15h ago
There’s a few and I follow a bunch of instagram thru-hikers
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u/universalsa 6h ago
Very informative!
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u/EACshootemUP 5h ago
The instagram accounts are active thru-hikers, the YouTubers aren’t on the PCT but good content regardless
https://youtube.com/@kraigadams?si=Rz6RZM3OChQ0mIQZ
https://youtube.com/@eric_hanson?si=T8CsFErP32ogyl7u
https://youtube.com/@chimfwemb8?si=xAOmqU0sEGaARFws
https://youtube.com/@xanderbudnick?si=3b1xrhjCMdc1UkNb
https://youtube.com/@harmenhoek?si=KS8SYi4wTjdfVT-h
https://www.instagram.com/noellejeanseward?igsi=MWhsOTY0azBxc2RqNQ==
https://www.instagram.com/kamryn35?igsi=dTJ5cnFuNTFqeWlm
https://www.instagram.com/clintbogard?igsi=MXd5bnVqMTJtejNoaA==
https://www.instagram.com/unhingedhiker?igsi=d3BiYjlkNTBzbHA3
https://www.instagram.com/l3o.he?igsi=MThrdGFhaDN5djBnMQ==
https://www.instagram.com/emily_gyldenholm?igsi=MWtoYTJ2aXFtc2FoNw==
https://www.instagram.com/beeswildlife?igsi=bm1tMHlvbmY3Z2N4
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u/Narco_Bi_Polo 7h ago
As someone who has also hiked the Appalachian Trail, I genuinely can’t comprehend how a 91 year old man could accomplish this.
There are a lot of thru hikes and pilgrimages I’ve completed that my mind and body could (and will) do again, but the walk from Georgia to Maine isn’t one of them.
There are lots of days now where my body says “yep, you’re never doing the AT again”. The Appalachian Trail breaks you and remakes you more times than states it crosses. No other hike or hallucinogen comes close.
Headed to the Triple Crown this weekend for some of both actually! Will have some trail magic setup for any SOBOs we run into.
Congrats on your completion!
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u/Ive_seen_things_that 17h ago
It's Monday and I made it to work after camping all weekend.... That count?
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u/EclecticEthic 16h ago
I bet by the time you’re 91 years old you’ll hike the trail. Gotta work up to it.
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u/1fastdak 16h ago
Wow, I did not know this was renamed. I actually proposed to my wife here several years ago.
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u/aravindkumarj 9h ago
That is very cool. It is a gorgeous place and I learnt it was renamed after I got there.
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u/IvyGold 16h ago
Was he a through hiker? This year? I thought a section of the AT was closed I think in NC from hurricane damage.
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u/Lament-of-Andromache 15h ago
That was a couple years ago. It’s been navigable since last year. There were just reroutes.
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u/Cubby0101 18h ago
Phew! That means I can put off walking the AT for a record attempt until I'm 92. /s
Good on ya Mr Sanders for the achievement. He held the 'oldest' record when he was 82 as well.
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u/DeviantHellcat 18h ago
And he just may hold the record for oldest again at 102 - I definitely wouldn't put it past him!
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u/External-Log4638 8h ago
"walking" the Appalachian trial isn't quite right
Here's a picture of this dude
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u/viceciiity 18h ago
He looks great
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u/PristineMinute4206 1h ago
Honestly yeah I hope I look half as good as he does if I make it to that age.
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u/Ambitious-Fish-8111 18h ago
And he's headed to the PCT next!
Source: Friends of mine that helped support his AT hike.
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u/room_temp_hot_coffee 17h ago
Will he have support on the PCT too? Some of those miles is a long ass water carry in the desert. 22 I think was the longest one. I did that at night though to help keep me from drinking all the water the first 10 miles
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u/WHSRWizard 3h ago
22 miles? Jesus, that is a LOOOOOOONG way without water. Is there the chance of an intermittent streams or anything, or do you just know it is going to be dry?
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u/Whalelord0516 40m ago
You know it's going to be dry. You just carry a bunch of water (6+ liters at times).
Source: I hiked the PCT in 2025
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u/LoggerRhythms 18h ago
I don't know but I've been told, you never slow down - you never grow old.
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u/McCopa 18h ago
I used to hustle cigs and TP on the AT ~ the NC/TN line...in the beforetimes.
I'd ask if they wanted a steak or a hotdog & would ask for the trailname on the ride....now we have too many trust-fund housing estates to count and the hikers have more options. Remember the hustlin' hillbillies that worship that Roan and those Highland Cattle. Some o' us local still find solace there.
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u/MrPBoy 18h ago
I understand the first paragraph. The second is about solace and mutual understanding as far as I can tell.
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u/McCopa 18h ago edited 17h ago
English Translation: There used to be BOTH a nice steakhouse and a nice hotdog spot nearby so I would give the hungry hiker the option. Now it is difficult to find either option done well.
It is common to take a TRAILNAME when hiking the Appalachian Trail. The market has been gentrified. Remember that the next time you litter. It's still important to some of us.
edit: Happy hikin', y'all! DO NOT JUMP OFF OF ELK FALLS!!!
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u/Top_Independence2676 17h ago
Had some friends doing it 20-30 years ago. And a persistent question they'd get when meeting another hiker......"Got any cigarettes?"
Still a thing?
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u/McCopa 17h ago
I am not on the AT currently but humans do be humanin', most of the hostels I've seen are much friendlier than that!
I do live on the Blue Ridge Parkway currently though and sadly I don't think it will be open for prime leaf-season due to Helene but still worth finding the end o' the sidewalk/parkway in 2026, imo. Anyone will give ya a smoke, to boot!
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u/RimRunningRagged 13h ago
I learned about the concept of "trail names" watching a vid about Geraldine Largay (aka "Inchworm"), the lady who got lost on the Appalachian Trail and eventually died of exposure and starvation
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u/ImFame 16h ago
Old people are no joke. I’m 29 and there’s this 80 year old who has more energy than me at work. He literally works for fun 💀
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u/BigMack6911 12h ago
Its not fun, its purpose. People need a purpose. My dad is 86, he retired 20 years ago and started a lawn biz. He said, you got to find a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Its not easy getting old
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u/Anal-In-Gus 18h ago
Damn, I need to go to the gym.
opens bag of chips and scratches ass
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u/Barbaracle 14h ago
The gluteus muscles are very important when hiking. A lot of people have a hard time isolating and activating them after sitting at an office job.
Scratching (tactile cueing) is a good way to build that mind-muscle connection. Good on ya for putting in that effort. 💪
Username checks out.
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u/clammyshammi 17h ago
His fitness and physique are more than impressive considering his age , most people are lucky to be in this type of shape at age 50/60s
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u/Mysterious-Island414 15h ago
I KNEW it was Dale! He’s great! I’m so glad to see this. He’s done a LOT of cool shit
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u/redditknees 18h ago
Is there a story about him?
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u/DeviantHellcat 18h ago
Google Dale Sanders
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u/MsMantisToboggan 17h ago
Just goofed him. Wow! His 2nd time hiking the AT. And he looks about 65 lol
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u/TheIadyAmalthea 18h ago
Meanwhile my parents are in their 60s and won’t leave their house. Good for him!
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u/High-since-1993 17h ago
If you are doing this in your 90’s you won at life. Everybody you know your age is dead or feeble and you’re still hiking 10 miles every day.
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u/jeepymcjeepface 15h ago
That's pretty darned inspiring.
I used to ride bicycle centuries. Every darned time I'd be wheezing along and some wrinkly 80 year old would zip right past me without breathing hard. So cool to see folks just crankin' right along no matter the number of years they've been doing it.
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u/AncientCrab895 18h ago
And here I am getting winded going upstairs
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u/bullwinkle8088 8h ago
Well just walk the stairs at Amicalola Falls, GA everyday. That will fix your problem :)
As a bonus it's the most common starting point for northbound hikers of the Appalachian trail.
Note: The second picture showing 175 steps is something of a lie, that's the lower portion. The upper portion is 426 stairs.
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u/whenisnowthen 17h ago
This goes to show how much people are willing to go through just to spend some time in New Jersey! My home state and I'm being just a wee bit silly with this comment.
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u/Disastrous_Return83 17h ago
He started the hike at 32. 😂
In all seriousness, what an amazing feat! Congrats to him. Gives me hope!
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u/JimHeckdiver 15h ago
Well now I feel inadequate. s/
Fucking outstanding for him though. Genuinely awesome.
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u/nickelundertone 17h ago
Who carried the rest of his gear?
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u/parkinthepark 7h ago
Through-hike records are typically divided into supported vs. unsupported.
In a supported hike, you'll have a partner (or even a team) that manages your heavier gear, resupplies you, and takes care of campsites/lodging. Sometimes that support just meets you at designated checkpoints, or they can hike alongside you.
This is clearly a supported hike, and I imagine he had one or more companion hikers throughout the whole thing, given his age.
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u/Bowhunter1980 16h ago
I swear when I was scrolling I thought it said “Hitler, 91, becomes oldest person to complete grueling Appalachian Trail”
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u/Rent_A_Cloud 11h ago
Grueling? Somebody hates nature walks.
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u/tegridyMike 11h ago
It’s over 2,000 miles, bud
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u/Rent_A_Cloud 24m ago
Yeah, I know. And I'm pretty sure it's only as gruelling as you make it for yourself.
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u/I_SHIT_IN_A_BAG 11h ago
I have a friend that just started this today and plans to be done by the month. about 10-15 miles a day.
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u/bullwinkle8088 8h ago
That math does not math. The AT is currently 2189 miles long. (It can change in official length year over year)
It has been done in 40 days, the current fastest known time, but 31 days? That would be extreme. On the ink you have to click the Southbound tab to see Tara Dower, the current holder, it defaults to Northbound.
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u/DesertScrat 17h ago
It’s not that grueling, but at 91 that is an incredible accomplishment. Did a thru in 1977.
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u/midnightllamas 18h ago
Accolades to him BUT…The AT is not grueling. You cross a freaking highway daily. The elevation is minimal. Look at what it takes to do the Continental Divide or PCT
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u/yooperann 17h ago
That's insane. Of course it's grueling. Are maybe the PCT or the CDT even harder? Perhaps. But it's not just a stroll in a park.
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u/Lament-of-Andromache 15h ago
Poor bait. Every triple crowner I have met has told me the AT is the hardest.
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u/jrice138 17h ago
The at is ten times harder than either the pct or cdt. True it’s really not wilderness and the elevation is much lower but the actual hiking itself is way harder. It’s a much more rugged and steep trail. I’ve done the pct twice and would gladly do the cdt again, I can’t imagine I’d ever step foot on the at again.
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u/bullwinkle8088 8h ago
The trail crews on the AT have largely never learned of the concept of a switchback.
I saw once, unverified but it sounds plausible, that many of the trails followed by the PCT and the CDT were made for horse and mule trains and so are less steep than the AT. They do still allow animals on some potions of the trails there which is what led me to the plausible guess.
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u/jrice138 4h ago
Yeah the pct is graded for stock animals so it’s much gentler in that regard. The cdt definitely not entirely but most of it I would say.
Generally speaking in comparison, the at is a very poorly built and maintained trail.
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u/bullwinkle8088 4h ago edited 3h ago
I'd say it's generally well maintained for foot traffic only, which is what it was created for. But the straight up the mountain trail cutting does suck at times.
Some years are better than others on trail maintenance. Maybe someone should start a social media "volunteer as a trail maintenance worker" trend.
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u/jrice138 3h ago
I didn’t think so. But I didn’t like most aspects of the at so maybe I was overly critical. And like I said in comparison. The pct is immaculate in comparison.
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u/bullwinkle8088 3h ago
After COVID there was a decline. The storm damage did not help either. I haven’t been out since early 2025 as I was moving across states. I’ll hit a section this weekend and see what it looks like.
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u/Rinuv 18h ago
How old was he when he started?