Record-setting treks on the Appalachian Trail are becoming increasingly remarkable as two extraordinary women recently embraced their own adventures. One broke her own record and the other shattered conventions surrounding age and hiking.
First up is Linda "Nana" Vanderloop, who recently hiked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail (AT) not just as any regular hiker, but as the oldest woman to ever complete this demanding feat. At the sprightly age of 74, Linda and her daughter, Hanna, took on the challenge together. During her hike, which finished on October 28, 2024, Linda made quite the name for herself by surpassing the previous record held by Nan Reisinger, who was 74 at the time of her completion. According to reports, Linda was actually born earlier than Reisinger, making her technically the eldest.
Linda and Hanna's unconventional method was not simply to hike the trail straight through, which is the common method known as "thru-hiking," but they carved their own path. Oddly enough, they adopted what they dubbed as their “choose-your-own-adventure” hiking strategy. They began their trek on November 18, 2023, just over one year before completing it. Starting from New York, they tackled the trail piece by piece, aligning their hiking schedule with family visits to make the experience even more personal.
The duo’s creative approach not only suited their lifestyles but provided them with the luxury of avoiding the crowded throes of the thru-hiker bubble. They often reflected on how the trail looked - worn and degraded due to heavy foot traffic, especially near the southern terminus. "If more people could choose our way of walking, it would maybe lessen some of the impact," Hanna ventured. Walking together offered both women the chance to carve out memories and immerse themselves fully without the stress of rival through-hikers.
Linda’s active lifestyle undoubtedly aided her during the hike. Having previously completed the Ice Age Trail, which stretches 1,300 miles through Wisconsin, she remained physically active by gardening and chopping wood for her cabin. While she and Hanna hiked, Linda’s husband acted as their "trail angel,” providing support by managing logisticsand helping them prepare meals when needed. The family aspect was also influential, as other family members occasionally joined them on the trail.
Then there’s Tara Dower, who took the challenge of the Appalachian Trail to exhilarating new heights. Tara tightened her laces and set out to break the speed record for completing the nearly 2,200-mile trail, clocking it at just under 41 days – smashing the previous record by 13 hours. Tara’s achievement isn't just impressive; it's mind-boggling. During her record-breaking run, she covered what amounts to more than two marathons per day, over rugged mountainous terrain. It’s easy to see why she felt utterly drained following her heroic undertaking.
Talking to The Guardian after her historic trek, Dower admitted, "I’m tired. I tried to run the other day and it was embarrassing." This kind of exhaustion is no joke, especially after pushing through single-day 100-mile races prior to her trail sprint. Dower's ambitious attempt came after years of blinking at the trails and experience of her first failed attempt at taking on the AT seven years ago.
“2017 is really where it began,” Tara recalled of her initial run-in with the trail. It didn't go as she imagined; just eight days after she set out to complete her first thru-hike, she suffered from panic. It’s painful for anyone just figuring out hiking challenges and dynamics - but throw trails and mountains, and she had acute anxiety manifest through physical reactions. Still, this wasn’t enough to completely deter her from the dream of completing the AT.
Tara had always gravitated toward sports. Raised far from the mountains of North Carolina, she explored cross-country and rugby but only experienced the Appalachian culture through her family. It wasn’t until she watched a documentary about the AT did she realize what was truly possible. The notion of traversing the expanse of the trail intrigued her fiercely. After her first panic attack left her apprehensive, returning to the trail took courage and resolve, especially when she was finally able to accomplish the magnificent feat alongside her husband Jonathan.
Her moving from past defeat to triumph serves not only as revelatory motivation for other potential hikers but also sets the stage for what is possible on the Appalachian Trail. A deep affinity for the mountains, combined with her passion for long-distance running, has made her experience come full circle. Dower’s hurdles, both physical and mental, inevitably provide insight to others who aspire to take long hikes or face similar fears.
What stands out from this dynamic duo of hikers is their experiences and how they increasingly meld challenges together with family ties. Whether it's breaking reaching age records like Linda or speed records like Tara, both women showcase just how personal the connection can be with the landscapes they traverse. Their stories are inspiring, reminding us of the unique possibilities present on the Appalachian Trail.
