Nimblewill Nomad's Record-Breaking Completion of the Appalachian Trail at Age 83

[isawtman]

Nimblewill Nomad Complete the Appalachian Trail at age 83 setting a new record

At 83, ‘Nimblewill Nomad’ Enters the Appalachian Trail Record Book

M.J. Eberhart, known by his trail name, hiked into Dalton, Mass., on Sunday and became the oldest known person to hike the more than 2,000 miles of trail from Georgia to Maine.

www.nytimes.com

 

[jsalt]

Fantastic. Respect.
Unfortunately, I need to subscribe to read it.

 

[trecile]

Fantastic. Respect.
Unfortunately, I need to subscribe to read it.

You should be able to read it from this unlocked link

At 83, ‘Nimblewill Nomad’ Enters the Appalachian Trail Record Book

M.J. Eberhart, known by his trail name, hiked into Dalton, Mass., on Sunday and became the oldest known person to hike the more than 2,000 miles of trail from Georgia to Maine.

www.nytimes.com

How to share NYT articles with non-subscribers.

Introducing Gift Articles, a New Way for Times Subscribers to Share Articles | The New York Times Company

www.nytco.com

 

[Sherpa47]

Nimblewill Nomad Complete the Appalachian Trail at age 83 setting a new record

At 83, ‘Nimblewill Nomad’ Enters the Appalachian Trail Record Book

M.J. Eberhart, known by his trail name, hiked into Dalton, Mass., on Sunday and became the oldest known person to hike the more than 2,000 miles of trail from Georgia to Maine.

www.nytimes.com

Absolutely fantastic! Many congratulations.

 

[Sue127]

Thank you for sharing. Full of respect,I doubt I could do that now, never mind in 18 years time!

 

[maryloufrommadison]

Nimblewill Nomad Complete the Appalachian Trail at age 83 setting a new record

At 83, ‘Nimblewill Nomad’ Enters the Appalachian Trail Record Book

M.J. Eberhart, known by his trail name, hiked into Dalton, Mass., on Sunday and became the oldest known person to hike the more than 2,000 miles of trail from Georgia to Maine.

www.nytimes.com

Great story! The AT is so much more formidable than the CF! Well done.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

 

[Richard Smith]

The Heaphy Track is one of NZ Great walks, 78km that walkers usually take 4 days to traverse. It is a tremendous walk but one big challenge is the length of road between the start and finish.You can walk in either direction.
Derry Kingston was an active walker who retired from his work and then set up a business taking walker's cars from one end to the other, if he got a car to drive back you got a discount, otherwise he would drive and then return walk in 19-20 hours.
He did this from 2003 to 2018, and retired again at 72.
This is Derry in the middle of pic (I am at right) during one of his last walk backs, other pic shows the car return path.

 

[Anniesantiago]

In 2019 a 92 year old woman completed the Camino Frances.

 

[Albertagirl]

View attachment 116008

Last week I had my annual checkup. My doctor and I agreed that my good bone density at my age can be credited to my long distance walking. Mileage is good for you.

 

[trecile]

In 2019 a 92 year old woman completed the Camino Frances.

Yes, that was Mabel Smith. I heard that she started out having her pack transported, then carried it herself for at least half the distance.
Here's a thread about Mabel

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/congratulations-to-mabel-smith-92-arriving-sdc-today.65128/

 

[Peregrinopaul]

This ad just appeared on my forum new posts.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

The Heaphy Track is one of NZ Great walks, 78km that walkers usually take 4 days to traverse. It is a tremendous walk but one big challenge is the length of road between the start and finish.You can walk in either direction.
Derry Kingston was an active walker who retired from his work and then set up a business taking walker's cars from one end to the other, if he got a car to drive back you got a discount, otherwise he would drive and then return walk in 19-20 hours.
He did this from 2003 to 2018, and retired again at 72.
This is Derry in the middle of pic (I am at right) during one of his last walk backs, other pic shows the car return path.

I met this guy (I think) or a DOC ranger when I walked the Heaphy. Who ever it was they often completed the trail from end to end in less than a day. Way out of my league.

I also remember clearly, swimming in the mountain stream on the Gouland Downs. The water was so cold that it actually felt hot on my skin.

 

[VNwalking]

Who ever it was they often completed the trail from end to end in less than a day.

 

[Richard Smith]

I met this guy (I think) or a DOC ranger when I walked the Heaphy. Who ever it was they often completed the trail from end to end in less than a day. Way out of my league.

I also remember clearly, swimming in the mountain stream on the Gouland Downs. The water was so cold that it actually felt hot on my skin.

this news article says :-
"Kingston likes to set himself challenges. He once walked 130km in just one day, leaving the Karamea pub at 10pm and arriving at the Collingwood Tavern exactly 24 hours later. He took a kitchen timer for 10-minute naps on the track. "

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

There was also a guy doing similar service on the Routeburne Track, they knew each other and one got the idea from the other (but I forget which was the original). The Routeburne guy would back walk it in a day.

 

[VNwalking]

The Routeburne guy would back walk it in a day.

Whaaat?!
I'm speechless.

 

[Richard Smith]

Whaaat?!
I'm speechless.

Yes and the drive part from near Milford Sound to top of the lake above Queenstown is looong too.

Not sure if this service is a continuation but it says :-
THE ROUTEBURN TRACK CAN BE HIKED / RUN IN JUST 1-2 DAYS.

Your Routeburn track car relocation transport service

Routeburn Milford Rees Dart Greenstone Caples track car relocation transport. Competitive prices. No additional charges. Trail run, walk or hike 1 or 2 days

trackhopper.co.nz

 

[VNwalking]

Yeah. They'd have to be running. Quite the terrain to be doing that, I have to say. Respect.

Those Southland DOC guys are tough as nails. I met a few of them when we were all stuck for days at Mason Bay on Stewart Island in a massive storm (1990? Something like that) - and they had easily walked in one day what had taken me 2½. Carrying way more than I was.

(They had come for the weekend on a lark to hunt deer and were missing work on the mainland. But we had to eat all their venison. Good folk; and an unforgettable 'mishap' that was way better than boring old things going as planned.)

Sorry off topic. But a happy memory.

 

[Annw]

Yes and the drive part from near Milford Sound to top of the lake above Queenstown is looong too.

Lake Wakatipu? Gorgeous area! Enjoyed a day of the Routeburn track -- learned my lesson on blisters.

 

[TDS]

Nimblewill Nomad Complete the Appalachian Trail at age 83 setting a new record

At 83, ‘Nimblewill Nomad’ Enters the Appalachian Trail Record Book

M.J. Eberhart, known by his trail name, hiked into Dalton, Mass., on Sunday and became the oldest known person to hike the more than 2,000 miles of trail from Georgia to Maine.

www.nytimes.com

We met 93-year-old Dorothea Adaskin and her daughter Tanya Bigge from Washington state in Sahagún hiking the Francés in 2017. I do know they both made it to Santiago from St. Jean Pied de Port over 46 days. I don't know if there are records of the oldest person completing the entire route, but this has to be close.

 

[Martha Jansen]

I agree... never too old. My first Camino.... SOLO..... from SJPDP to Compostela was in 2015 at the age of 77 and my second was 3 years later in 2018 to celebrate my 80th birthday... again the full 500 miles SOLO; and then I also went to the Finisterre and Muxia. I took my time and 50 days to do these walks. Many times alone as I walked my own pace; I stayed in Hostels along the way. Many pilgrims would slow down and walk with me a stretch just to hear my story. I made many friends and I'm still in touch with several of them. And several walked more than a day with me.
We'd planned a family trip in 2021 for several of our group to walk the Portugal route and others to drive the car and meet us every night, enjoying touring during the day. But, Covid happened and it was cancelled. Yes... I definitely want to walk another time. In preparation, I walk several miles a day, walk up a steep hill at least once a week and , on Saturday mornings I do a ten mile walk with my two daughters! Oh yes.... we live in a condo on the third floor and I only take the elevator when I've been shopping! Otherwise I walk two flights of stairs several times a day. Hopefully next year II will do my third walk at the age of 84. But it depends on Covid conditions. Buen Camino

 

[Teez]

We met 93-year-old Dorothea Adaskin and her daughter Tanya Bigge from Washington state in Sahagún hiking the Francés in 2017. I do know they both made it to Santiago from St. Jean Pied de Port over 46 days. I don't know if there are records of the oldest person completing the entire route, but this has to be close.

That gives us hope! We did Pamplona to Santiago in 2019. I was 73 and Peter was 79. He had his 80th birthday in Santiago. We are planning for possibly April - May in 2023 when he’ll be 83 and I’ll be 77. Walking every day now to keep those legs going!

 

[AZperegrino]

Truly inspiring!
During our 2019 CF we met a lady from Oakland CA in an albergue in San Martin (just past Leon) who was 82. She was doing it solo, carrying her own pack, and having a grand time. Her daily average was about 10 miles, so probably a 50+ day schedule.
I told here that she was my hero, and that I hoped to be able to do it when I'm 82, which she thought was pretty funny. Oh well, we'll find out in about 15 years...
Hopefully we can do another practice hike later this year, on the CP.

 

[countycork]

Loved reading all the above & hoping to get back into the ‘swing of things’ in September on Portuguse………..hopefully COVID 19 will be a distant memory by then - been a long 2 years!

 

[Hilarious]

In 2019 a 92 year old woman completed the Camino Frances.

She certainly did. I will never forget Mabel - such an inspiration We stayed at the same accommodation a couple of times on our Camino.

 

[trecile]

She certainly did. I will never forget Mabel - such an inspiration We stayed at the same accommodation a couple of times on our Camino.

Lucky you! I would have loved to have met her.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I'm not sure, but I don't think I want to aspire to walk the Camino in my 90's, should I be fortunate enough to live that long. I'd probably stick to short day adventures, such as bungee jumping or zip-lining.

 

[Kathy F.]

I'm trying to wrap my head around a 6-pound pack.

 

[andarapie]

I agree... never too old. My first Camino.... SOLO..... from SJPDP to Compostela was in 2015 at the age of 77 and my second was 3 years later in 2018 to celebrate my 80th birthday... again the full 500 miles SOLO; and then I also went to the Finisterre and Muxia. I took my time and 50 days to do these walks. Many times alone as I walked my own pace; I stayed in Hostels along the way. Many pilgrims would slow down and walk with me a stretch just to hear my story. I made many friends and I'm still in touch with several of them. And several walked more than a day with me.
We'd planned a family trip in 2021 for several of our group to walk the Portugal route and others to drive the car and meet us every night, enjoying touring during the day. But, Covid happened and it was cancelled. Yes... I definitely want to walk another time. In preparation, I walk several miles a day, walk up a steep hill at least once a week and , on Saturday mornings I do a ten mile walk with my two daughters! Oh yes.... we live in a condo on the third floor and I only take the elevator when I've been shopping! Otherwise I walk two flights of stairs several times a day. Hopefully next year II will do my third walk at the age of 84. But it depends on Covid conditions. Buen Camino

Good luck to you, Martha! Walking and swimming are the best exercise. Hope to run across your path one of these years.