Dale "Grey Beard" Sanders, age 91, finished hiking the Appalachian Trail on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 11:44 a.m. The completion at Baxter Peak in Maine makes Sanders the oldest person to thru-hike the 2,190-mile trail, reclaiming a title he previously held.
Sanders first set the age record in 2017 when he was 82 years old. That record was later broken in 2021 by M.J. "Nimblewill Nomad" Eberhart, who was 83 at the time. During Sanders' current effort, the 87-year-old Eberhart assisted by driving Sanders' support vehicle for the first 800 miles of the journey.
The hike began on September 6, 2025, and took 359 days to complete. Sanders used a "flip-flop" route, starting at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and hiking south toward Georgia before pausing for the winter. He resumed in the spring, traveling with a truck camper known as "Base Camp on Wheels" and a rotating crew of volunteer drivers who managed meals and logistics.
The journey was interrupted earlier in August 2026 when Sanders was hospitalized in Millinocket, Maine, due to complications from a fall in July. After being cleared by medical professionals, he returned to the trail to complete a remaining section in the Smoky Mountains before finishing the final miles in Maine. To satisfy Guinness World Records requirements, Sanders maintained a physical logbook, continuous GPS records, and witness statements.
For outdoor organizations and the hiking community, this record sets a new benchmark for age-based performance on one of the United States' National Scenic Trails. The achievement involves an investment of time and coordination, as seen in Sanders' nearly year-long timeline and the involvement of his peer, 87-year-old former record holder M.J. Eberhart. The use of "flip-flop" routes and vehicle support demonstrates the varied methods used to navigate the trail’s terrain, which spans 14 states from Georgia to Maine.
The next steps for this record involve the formal verification process by Guinness World Records. Sanders must submit his collected evidence, including the physical logbook and SPOT satellite tracker data, for official review. Until that review is finalized, the record remains based on trail logs and witness reports. Sanders, who worked for the Navy for 37 years, has stated he intends to continue pursuing adventures as long as he is physically capable.