r/interestingasfuck 20h ago

Hiker, 91, becomes oldest person to complete grueling Appalachian Trail

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u/ignatious__reilly 18h ago edited 18h 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/Striking-Ad-6815 18h 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 18h 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.

u/twistwrist9876 8h ago

I thru-hiked in 2015 and you pretty much nailed the experience right here.