91-Year-Old Dale Sanders Reclaims Record as Oldest Appalachian Trail Hiker

Dale Sanders, 91, completed the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail after 71 falls to reclaim his age record.

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Dale Sanders, 91, completed the Appalachian Trail on August 31, 2026, reclaiming the record for the oldest person to finish the route. ^[1] Sanders fell 71 times during his hike, including six hard falls, one of which required a brief hospitalization. ^[2] Sanders started his hike on September 6, 2026, in West Virginia and finished atop Mount Katahdin in Maine. ^[3] Sanders completed the hike on Monday at the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. ^[4] Sanders' wife convinced him to continue hiking after he considered giving up following his hospitalization in Maine. ^[5] Sanders first set the record for the oldest Appalachian Trail hiker in 2017 at age 82. ^[6]

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Dale Sanders, 91, completed the Appalachian Trail on August 31, 2026, reclaiming the record for the oldest person to finish the route. · Winnipeg Free Press

Sanders fell 71 times during his hike, including six hard falls, one of which required a brief hospitalization. · Winnipeg Free Press

Sanders started his hike on September 6, 2026, in West Virginia and finished atop Mount Katahdin in Maine. · Winnipeg Free Press

Sanders completed the hike on Monday at the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. · The Times Of India

Sanders' wife convinced him to continue hiking after he considered giving up following his hospitalization in Maine. · Winnipeg Free Press

Sanders first set the record for the oldest Appalachian Trail hiker in 2017 at age 82. · The Times Of India

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