To have fun his birthday, 88-year-old Bill Kingrea wished to finish what he says is the final merchandise on his bucket listing: climbing a piece of the Appalachian Trail (AT). Particularly, the Virginia man needed to hike 100 miles of the AT within Shenandoah National Park. He completed the trek in good well being and spirits shortly earlier than Christmas, and he raised hundreds of {dollars} for a nonprofit alongside the best way.
Local WHSV News studies that Kingrea hiked chunks of the 100-mile path at a time, and it took him about three months. Kingrea felt impressed by a person who accomplished the whole thing of the AT in 2021 at age 83. That man was M.J. Eberhart, who nonetheless holds the report for being the oldest particular person to finish the through hike.
Kingrea known as his quest “Hike for Hope,” and he raised over $5,000 for Hope Distributed, a nonprofit meals financial institution in his space. He began the hike in September, however took a break after his spouse handed away. The remaining trek then doubled as a solution to grieve his loss.
“I’m hoping [my trek] will encourage any individual else to do one thing related,” Kingrea advised WHSV. “If nothing else, simply encourage them to remain wholesome and stroll [until] they’re 90.”
See the 88-year-old hiker’s put up about ending his momentous trek alongside the Appalachian Path right here: