Each year, only about one out of every four hikers who set out to complete the Appalachian Trail reaches that goal.

A through hike, as it's known, means traversing nearly 2,200 miles across 14 states in a single 12-month period.

It's a monumental feat of physical and emotional endurance, but it's not just a journey for the young.

As a retired school teacher from Michigan explains, my name is Betty Kellenberger.

I've just completed a through hike of the Appalachian Trail, and in doing so, because I'm 80,

I set a record.

I'm the oldest female to have completed the through hike.

I read about it, my little weekly reader in

elementary school, and I just thought that would be wonderful. Had that thought and kind of buried it,

lived with it, but buried it. I had lived through COVID, and somewhere along the line, the idea

of doing the Appalachian Trail re-entered my vision. And initially I thought, oh, yeah, right. And then I thought, well, how long do you think you have? Did I think I had another 10 years to think about it? How long? And so I just got busy and started training and got out there. Early on, in Georgia, I tripped on a rock, face planted, ended up with two black eyes and a bloody nose. And one of my first thoughts was,

I didn't quit. At least I didn't quit. So I got up and I continued hiking. And on that one,

that was in 22, I was able to get from Georgia to Harper's Ferry, which is considered halfway.

And then I had picked up a partner, a trail partner, and we flew to Maine. Then we were going to

hike south.

He fell coming down off of Kataden, hurt himself.

I went on then by myself, which probably wasn't the brightest thing I've ever done, but I had Lyme,

I had gotten myself severely dehydrated, I had a concussion, and I met a couple of hikers who pointed

that out to me.

They realized I was in trouble. And we got

me into town. The town got me into the hospital and the doctor said, no, you need to get off.

So then I went out last year, started at Harper's Ferry and headed south. And that particular

...