NimbleWill- The oldest man to conquer the Appalachian Trail

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I can’t do that,” well, this story might be for you. The story which you are about to hear will change your entire perspective on hiking and on life. Let’s go!

Age is just a number, as you might have heard, and now the oldest man to have hiked the whole length of the Appalachian Trail is proving just that. That’s right because, at age eighty-three, M.J. Eberhart has now become the oldest man to finish trekking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine. Wow!

Flooded by friends, fans, and reporters, his travels brought him a ton of fanfare. Everywhere he went, people were there to cheer him on. He attracted so much buzz that even the New York Times wanted to know who this guy was. Now his name has become a staple amongst the hiking community.

Eberhart, otherwise known as the “Nimblewill Nomad,” demonstrates to us that grit and tenacity are far more important qualities than age when it comes to the outdoors. And when it comes to hiking, that also symbolizes having a clear image of what it is that you want to achieve. As a retired eye doctor himself, Eberhart knows how important it is to have great vision. Eberhart is an inspiration to people and hikers from around the globe.

Despite the aforementioned praise, Eberhart is no stranger to hiking or success. Eberhart embraced an interest in hiking during the eighties. In fact, years before hiking the Appalachian Trail, he traveled across Route 66 from Chicago to California. In addition to that, he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, which travels down Washington, traverses through Oregon, and comes to an end in California.

His hiking journey, which has also taken him up the Eastern Continental Trail, was well documented. An established writer and author, Eberhart, wrote about his travels in his book “Ten Million Steps;” an exciting story about fortitude and forgiveness. His book is available on Amazon.

NimbleWill is an inspiration to everyone in the Outdoor community and beyond.

We at The Rugged Outdoorsmen were fortunate enough to have an acquaintance track down Eberhart and show him a token of our appreciation.

Take a closer look at his hand in the picture. We would like to think that he carry’s that with him in his pocket, as a reminder of his incredible journey, not just on the trail, but in life.