At age 80, retired schoolteacher Betty Kellenberger has officially become the oldest woman to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, proving persistence can outlast any obstacle.
Kellenberger, from Carson City, Michigan, first learned about the legendary trail as a child through a Weekly Reader and dreamed of hiking it one day. Life, work, injuries, illness, and even loss delayed that dream for decades, but never erased it.
The Appalachian Trail stretches roughly 2,200 miles across 14 states from Georgia to Maine, with steep climbs, rocky terrain, and punishing conditions that cause most thru-hikers to fall short. Still, Betty wanted to complete the entire trail.
Her journey was anything but easy. She attempted her first thru-hike in 2022, but dehydration, Lyme disease, and a concussion forced her off the trail. In 2023, a serious fall ended another attempt. After knee replacement surgery and the passing of her trail partner, Joe Cox, Betty became determined to finish the trail in his honor.
In 2024, Hurricane Helene disrupted large sections of the trail, but officials allowed hikers to carry over completed mileage. Betty trained relentlessly back home, climbing hospital staircases daily in flat Michigan. When she returned to the trail in March 2025, she faced only the remaining northern and southern sections.
Encouragement from a fellow hiker kept her moving forward, and on September 12, Betty completed the final northern stretch. In doing so, she broke the previous age record by six years.
“I’ve had a series of unfortunate events,” she told AARP. “But each one, I learned something. Each one, I got a little stronger.”
Betty now shares a message she hopes inspires others. Set a goal, keep moving, and do not let age or expectations define your limits. Sometimes, all it takes is the first step.
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