'Get moving and stay moving,' oldest woman to hike Appalachian Trail says

CARSON CITY — Betty Kellenberger became the oldest woman to complete a thru-hike of the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail nearly a year ago, but people still ask her for advice about conquering the trail, and big life pursuits like it.

Kellenberger, a retired grade schoolteacher, was 80 in September of 2025 when she finished the nearly 2,200-mile path, which passes through 14 states and runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.

Now 81, she hasn't stopped hiking and hopes to go back to revisit sections of the trail.

We asked her what advice she gives to people considering what may appear to be overwhelming challenges. Here are some pearls of wisdom she offered about getting through the Appalachian Trail, and staying active as you age:

Keep moving

"Get moving and stay moving and make sure that you're moving consistently," Kellenberger said. "It's a part of your day. And you'll find that when you do, you end up with a whole lot more energy. People don't understand that until they do it, but the more active you become, the more energy you'll have."

Get the most out of experiences

Kellenberger started travelling in her 20s, during summer breaks when she wasn't teaching in a classroom. It's important to collect stories, she said.

"Make sure you're making memories. Don't bypass a scenic outlook because you've got 10 minutes and don't want to waste it. Don't get in such a rush that you only see the end. Then that's all you'll have."

Don't take on other's fears

Kellenberger knows something about risk. During her Appalachian Trail adventure she was stopped once because she got Lyme disease. Another time, she had to get off a mountain and end her hike for a time because of a hurricane.

"Don't let other people's fears stop you. Don't take on their fears. People, to this day, will say 'Oh, do you really think you should? Are you going to be safe out there?' They have all kinds of fears, and it doesn't matter whether I'm hiking or anything else, they still want me to stay on the couch."

Master your own fear

"Don't let your fear make your decisions for you. If you do that, fear wins."

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