I saw a post on Facebook boasting how well women have been doing lately with the fastest time on the AT and soon to be fastest time on the PCT. Another poster mentioned possible soon to be youngest AT thru-hiker being a girl. Sure enough a Google search turned up Chipmunk, a 15 year old girl.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article...9627?p=1&tc=pg
Does anyone know if any such records are kept? Although she's out there carrying a backpack and appears to be thru-hiking, would being followed by your mom in a camper count?
In '97, I met a couple brothers southbounding at the Trimpi shelter. The oldest was 17, and if I'm not mistaken the younger may have been younger than 15. (I guess that doesn't count for solo) These two were on their own, mature for their age and impressive. If Bob Peoples has a better memory than me he probably recalls their names and exact ages.