There are some great older folks on the Trail. Does anyone know who the oldest was in ‘03? SeanO’ (Obe Wan, Sage of Sedgwick) turned 72 while he was out there. He started on March 17th and finished on September 30th. Batch was 81, but got off in Virginia. Anyone remember them?
AT Girl
Sean-O was a great guy. I hiked with him for a bit in Pennsylvania. He didn’t look a day over 60.
Bankrobber
Who was the 88 (I think) year old that had Nat. Geographic following his progress? He left the trail in Erwin for a bit, after a knee problem, but came back and hiked a while longer.
nobody
I am not sure about the spelling but I think this is who you mean. He was 81 and a very determined hiker and real character. He was on and off the trail a few times with the injury but he did several hundred miles last year.
Miss Janet
Hi
I hope to hike the trail when I am 60. I have been wondering about hiking at that age. It is good to see that there are older people out there trying it. I will be “several days over 60”. I would like to hear about their experiences.
WalkinWally
Batch was a great person. I didn’t meet him hiking, but I did meet him and his wife Mary. They were dishing out some trail magic in the parking lot right after Mt Moosilake. They had a great spread of food and even shuttled us into town. I hope I am as active as they are and still hiking when I hit my 70’s and 80’s.
BLip
I’m not sure exactly how old KOOP was, but he was up there… Anyone know for sure?
oldkathy
What a great dude. 81, and would outhike mileswise, anyone out there every day. He got off somewhere after Penn I believe, and I ran into him at Crawford Nothc when I was hitching back to Packrats in Glencliff to take a day or two off…he and his wife were doing trail magic…he rocks! Sean-o is a cool cat to, and he could play the hell out of a piano. He jammed at The Mohican Outdoor Center…wow.
Lion King
Batch and his wife rock! By far the best cookies I had on the trail were a gift from Batch’s wife.
yo-yo
Any one ever heard of a chaffing cream that could be dubbed as tooth paste or to treat insect bites
texasman
I was sectioning last April,around Easter weekend,from Bly Gap to Deep Gap NC. Met in as he was a mile or so south of Muscrat, he was trim an fit as a fiddle. He was at the shelter that nite with several other thrus. Was called DOC, had on a brimmed aussie type hat with lots of the medals, pins etc, was a doc, medic thru several campaigns in the military. Seemed like the life of those around him, enjoyed a chat with him, he seemed determined , trust he made it. Happy hiking
Stretch Mcguillicuddy
Walkinwally, I’m 57 and thru hiked in '02 and hiked with several over 60 and they did great. Fullmoonwalking has a journal on this site. He had a great hike. I saw more younger people, as a percent of total, quiting the trail than I did older hikers. It is a matter of physical health. Start slow and pickup speed when your body says you can. Don’t get sucked into staying up with the crowd. Read some of the journals from '01, '02 and '03.
Papa Smurf
Just a quick note about hiking in 2002- I met Batch at the shelter at Amicalola and had a very enjoyable night with him before I began my hike. Coming off of Kathadin one of the first people I saw in the campground after a foggy ascent was Batch with his wife. I hadn’t seen him since Amicalola. Amazing! Another one of the many memories small and large I will never forget about the AT.
Flash