M.J. “Sunny” Eberhart is no stranger to hiking long distances, having walked between California and Chicago as well as the Florida Keys and northern Quebec.
Nimblewill NomadM.J. Eberhart , right , accepts an graven hike joint from Dale Sanders , the old record bearer .
In February 2021 , M.J. “ cheery ” Eberhart part to walk . And take the air , and walk . Now , the 83 - year old nicknamed “ Nimblewill Nomad ” has become the sometime person to boost the Appalachian Trail .
“ I ’ve a got a couple of skid marks on me , but I ’m OK,”Eberhart say . “ You ’ve cause to have an incredible resoluteness to do this . ”
Nimblewill NomadM.J. Eberhart, right, accepts an engraved hiking stick from Dale Sanders, the previous record holder.
He triumphantly arrived in Dalton , Massachusetts , in November , having successfully cut across the celebrated 2,193 - mi route that stretches from Georgia to Maine . Eberhart broke the phonograph record antecedently hold by fellow hiker Dale Sanders , or “ Grey Beard . ”
drum sander , who walked the final stretch with Eberhart , later gave him an engraved hiking stick to mark Eberhart ’s record - breaking hike .
“ My darling acquaintance Nimblewill is taking my record away from me , and I ’m happy for him , ” Sanders enjoin . “ Records are made to be broken . ”
Nimblewill NomadEberhart on the final day of his hike. Nov 7, 2021.
Nimblewill NomadEberhart on the final day of his boost . Nov 7 , 2021 .
Eberhart first set out from his home in Flagg Mountain , Alabama , nine month earlier , venture on what he called “ Odyssey 2021 ‘ Bama to Baxter – Hike On . ”
“ This will be the ultimate journey in this one-time man ’s living , one of body , mind and spirit,”Eberhart explained on his hiking blog .
Nimblewill NomadEberhart arriving in Dalton, Massachusetts at the end of his hike.
A serious tramp , Eberhart did n’t simply force back to the Springer Mountain trail head in northerly Georgia . Instead , he walk the 400 mi from Flagg Mountain . Only then did Eberhart embark on the Appalachian Trail itself , convey a six - Ezra Pound mob with a tent , sleeping bag , and other gear .
Conscious of his age , Eberhart traversed the trail out of order to take advantage of good weather . He slept in the wild , gritted his tooth and scrambled over boulders , and hiked share of the track with others . Every day , he thought about fall by the wayside .
“ I knew what was coming , ” Eberhart said , recall the pain that racked his body during the hike , especially his understructure . “ And day to twenty-four hours , the challenge . ”
Absolutely Alabama/TwitterM.J. Eberhart, left, in Flagg Mountain, Alabama.
But he took inspiration from Lance Armstrong , who once said that painful sensation was impermanent but defeat was everlastingly .
“ Eighty percentage of it is genial grit,”Eberhart said . “ And that is why so many people fail . ”
Over the course of his boost , Eberhart fall back 15 quid . He also uprise out his hair and beard , noting , “ The old human beings on the flock has get to have a beard . ”
Nimblewill NomadEberhart arriving in Dalton , Massachusetts at the end of his rise .
Eberhart ’s long love affair with hike first started in 1993 . Then recently divorced and alienated from his kid , he took to the road , hoping to find ease from his privileged anguish .
His many hiking include a 4,400 - mile journeying between the Florida Keys and northern Quebec — which Eberhart described in his bookTen Million Steps — an even longer hike between Newfoundland and Florida , and a hike that took Eberhart from Chicago to California on Route 66 . He ’s even boost the Appalachian Trail before , in 1998 and 2001 – 2002 .
“ you may seek peace . That does n’t mean that you ’re going to find it,”Eberhart said , explicate his hiking school of thought during his 2021 odyssey . “ I persevere to the point that the good Lord looked down on me and pronounce you ’re forgiven , you’re able to be at peace .
He total : “ It ’s a unplumbed blessing . It ’s as simple as that . ”
With his record - breaking hike now completed , Eberhart design to return home to Flagg Mountain — by railway car , this time . There , the former eye Dr. oversees a ardour tower and Civilian Conservation Corps cabins .
utterly Alabama / TwitterM.J. Eberhart , left , in Flagg Mountain , Alabama .
As for next hikes ? Eberhart is simply thankful for the last one . “ I am 83 years old , ” he say . “ I just desire I am here tomorrow . ”
But his friends do n’t think that Nimblewill Nomad will be retire from hiking anytime soon . According to Eberhart ’s friend , Odie Norman , who boost 100 miles of Eberhart ’s record - pause cost increase with him , the 83 - yr old is looking forward to take to the trails again shortly .
“ He said , ‘ You acknowledge they ’re calling this my final wage increase . ’ Then he laughed , ” Norman say . “ I do n’t think it ’s become to be his last hike . I just do n’t think he knows what ’s he ’s going to hike next . ”
After reading about the record - breaking hike of “ Nimblewill Nomad , ” enjoy this list ofthe best hiking track . Or , look through these incredible sitesreclaimed by nature .
