At 91, Dale ‘Grey Beard’ Sanders reclaims record as oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail

MILLINOCKET, Maine (AP) — 91-year-old Dale "Grey Beard" Sanders has reclaimed the record as the oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail. Over the course of his journey, Sanders experienced 71 falls, with six of them being considered hard falls. Despite his age, Sanders persevered through challenging conditions and even paused to pray at the summit of Mount Katahdin.

Sanders, whose real name is Dale Sanders, first set the record in 2017 at the age of 82. However, his latest attempt was more difficult, as he had not been in top shape following his previous falls. Sanders credits his support team and the kindness of fellow hikers, known as "trail angels," for their assistance along the way. Sanders' accomplishment has inspired others, and he has gained a following on social media.

In addition to his age-related records, Sanders also holds a record for being the oldest person to paddle the entire length of the Mississippi River.