Oldest Woman Thru-Hiker In Appalachian Trail History Conquered Katahdin At 80 Years Old!

Some of us just hope we can still live independently and move around under our own power when get to be in our golden years, but others refuse to rest on their laurels, and are literally conquering mountains, decades after retirement.

At the tender age of 80, Betty Kellenberger from Carson City, Michigan, just proved that age is just a state of mind, if you really get down to it. On September 12th, Kellenberger became the oldest woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

The octogenarian hiked 2,200 miles (although it might be more than that because of how her journey unfolded...more on that in a minute.)

According to the former middle school teacher, this record-setting adventure has been 3 years in the making. Not only did Kellenberger face literal obstacles along the trail that led to falls and serious injuries, but she also faced obstacles that were mental and physical, like a knee replacement, Lyme's Disease, the death of her hiking partner, and even natural obstacles like a wildly powerful Hurricane Helene.

Kellenberger defied the odds and just kept showing up. This slow but steady attitude, and the thought that she had to complete it in honor of her late hiking partner, kept Betty going through all the challenges she faced.

She said that hiking the trail has been a dream of hers since she first heard about it back when she was a little girl.

"Bear in mind, when I was a young girl, the AT was new. We read about it in school. It became a dream, and it stuck with me."

Kellenberger attempted this hike 3 different times. Her first go at it was with her hiking partner, Joe Cox, in 2022. After running into some medical issues, she had to suspend her hike to try again the next year. Unfortunately, Cox passed away, and she began once more, alone in 2023. Again, she was forced off the trail when she took a bad fall and was injured.

Last year, she came back swinging after a knee surgery, but had to pause, yet again, when Mother Nature unleashed Hurricane Helene, and Appalachian Trail officials told everyone they had to leave the trail for safety's sake.

This resilient and determined woman would not stop. She was back at it this year, and by sheer will, finally completed the goal she set out to accomplish.

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Kellenberger said she really didn't think anything about setting a record until people that she would meet along the trail asked her how old she was.

"Usually I wouldn't answer those questions, but I figured the people along the trail were really asking how long they'd be able to hike like this, so I told them."

World traveled quickly among the other hikers, and Kellenberger said she started to gain some amusing notoriety, with people commenting when they'd come across her, "Hey, it's you, I've been trying to catch up to you for 70 miles now."

According to The Trek Facebook Page, setting a record had nothing to do with it. Kellenberger just wanted to fulfill her childhood dream and honor her fallen friend.

"The women’s age record previously belonged to Linda 'Nana' Vanderloop, who finished the trail last year at age 74. Much like Vanderloop, Kellenberger didn’t set out on the AT with the goal of becoming the oldest woman thru-hiker. 'The age record was incidental. In fact, I was nearly done before people started asking my age and suggesting I could be breaking the record,' she says. "

Betty says she actually did the northern leg of the journey a little backwards, going from Maine through Massachusetts and ending in Vermont. And she says her favorite part of the entire hike was the time she spent in the Pine Tree State.

"It was just so beautiful."

She said that big challenges weren't even the hardest part of the journey. It was the small, mundane, day-to-day things that were tough sometimes to power through.

Kellenberger says that aside from hiking, she also loves to bike.

"I've done a lot more biking than hiking."

When I asked her what her next big goal was going to be, she said:

"Possibly Iceland or North Country Trail (Michigan portion),"

What a great example of what you can accomplish if you just keep going, possess a "never give up" attitude, and have a whole lotta grit and patience.

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It's said that at one point along the trail, she encountered some Boy Scouts who gave her the trail name of "Legend."

I'd say she's living up to that name.

Congratulations, Betty!

What an inspiration.

And thanks for reminding us how important tenacity is when it comes to achieving your dreams.