True Grit! 80-Year-Od Woman Sets New Record Hiking Appalachian Trail

New York Post ^ | Jan. 10, 2026 | Jeanne Erickson

[nickcarraway]

At age 80, Betty Kellenberger set a benchmark for endurance last summer, becoming the oldest woman to complete the treacherous 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail.

Kellenberger, who spent 41 years teaching middle school in Carson City, Mich., said she’d dreamed of hiking the 14-state footpath — which runs from Springer Mountain in northern Georgia to Mount Katahdin in central Maine — since childhood.

But, as she put it, “life got in the way,” she told The Post.

[nickcarraway]

[dfwgator]

Did she run into Mark Sanford?

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Here is a pictue of her before retirement:

[ansel12]

She’s old enough to be a rock star.

[PGR88]

Sounds like she did half the trail by herself

I don’t think its a good idea for an old woman to travel that alone.

[MayflowerMadam]

Impressive! was impressed when my dear friend hiked at least 5 miles every day until she suddenly died at age 83. (Yes; she did get the clot shot.)

[Jonty30]

You ever try and tell an old woman not to do something?

[onona]

You ever try and tell an old woman not to do something?

I said “calm down”.

once

[Paladin2]

Oracle level advice....

[nickcarraway]

Sorry, about your friend.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Sorry, about your friend.”

Thank you. The day 9/11 is doubly sad for me.

[oldtech]

That’s quite a feat for someone that age. How long did it take?

[Organic Panic]

Awesome. I would love to do that trail. I hiked the PCT back in the day and loved every bit of it. Me and my buddy did it in record time.