Bartlett’s Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders Reclaims Appalachian Trail Record at 91

Bartlett’s “Grey Beard” Does It Again

Some people slow down with age. Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders keeps finding new mountains to climb. The 91-year-old Bartlett resident has reclaimed his place in the record books as the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail, finishing the roughly 2,193-mile journey at Maine's Mount Katahdin on August 31. For Sanders, this wasn't his first time making Appalachian Trail history. He originally set the record in 2017 at age 82. Four years later, fellow hiker M.J. “Nimblewill Nomad” Eberhart surpassed the record at age 83. Sanders eventually decided he wanted another shot at the title.

A Year on the Trail

Sanders began his latest Appalachian Trail journey in September 2025, tackling the trail in sections rather than hiking continuously from Georgia to Maine. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy allows hikers to complete the trail's sections in different locations and in different directions as long as the entire trail is completed within a 365-day period. That approach allowed Sanders to work around weather, his physical condition and other demands along the way. The journey was anything but easy. Sanders estimates that he fell 71 times, including six falls he considered particularly serious. One incident resulted in a brief hospitalization after he experienced numbness in his arm. Doctors ultimately determined that the problem was a pinched nerve rather than a stroke. He also returned home briefly following the death of his mother-in-law before deciding to make one more push to finish the trail.

The Final Climb

With the finish line approaching, Sanders returned to the trail and completed the remaining miles. His final destination was Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Even the final climb presented a challenge. Sanders fell again near the summit but got back up and continued to the top, where he paused to pray and recognize the people who had helped him along the way.

More Than a Record

Sanders' journey has attracted attention well beyond the hiking community. Thousands of people have followed his progress, and along the way he discovered that reclaiming the record was becoming less important than the encouragement his adventure was providing to others. That may be the most remarkable part of the story. At 91, Sanders isn't simply demonstrating that an extraordinary physical accomplishment is possible late in life. He's showing that there is still plenty of room for adventure, challenge and new goals. And if his history is any indication, the Appalachian Trail may not be the last record Sanders decides to chase.

What's Next for Grey Beard?

Sanders has already built an impressive resume of outdoor accomplishments. He previously became the oldest person to paddle the full length of the Mississippi River, adding another major endurance achievement to his list. Now that he's back home in Bartlett, he says he's looking forward to some rest—but apparently not too much. The next adventure may already be taking shape.

Bartlett can claim one heck of an adventurer among its residents.

Source: The Trek, Associated Press reporting and Memphis Magazine.

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