It turns out that Emma Gatewood was the author's great-great aunt; he had heard a few stories about Emma from his mother. Now, in the first biography of this famous A.T. icon, Ben Montgomery, a staff writer at the Tampa Bay Times, examines Emma Gatewood's life on and off the A.T. As soon as I could, I bought and read it. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. As I tell the children what Grandma Gatewood accomplished, I hope to personally pass on the legacy of this feisty, active, and brave woman. Previous The Appalachian Trail and Chronic Worriers. In 1955, she took a bus to Oglethorpe, Ga to walk the trail. So read her story and then go take a hike! Only you're a 67 year old great-grandmother, and no one knows where you are. Essay | It's Time For A CCC Revival For National Parks And Other Public Lands, National Parks Traveler Episode 101: Searching For The Missing In National Parks, Forever Resorts Staging Reservation Windows For Grand Canyon Lodge. Post navigation. Until then, we will b The Appalachian Trail (AT), traveling light as a feather. The bulk of the book is devoted to her first thru-hike with the others mentioned only in passing. I actually didn't care for Wild because the author didn't emerge from her hike on the PCT a better person, however, after reading about Grandma Gatewood, I felt inspired and a longing to know more of her story. When the author visited in 2013, he reported that 4,305 people had shown up to do the Grandma Gatewood hike. Grandma Gatewood was a 67 year old woman, whose 11 children had grown up and left home when she decided that she was going to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail from Mt. In 1955, a the age of 67, she became the first woman to walk the entire Appalachian Trail. Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars. She also brought attention to all the places on the A.T. which could use some maintenance and better blazing. If you want to read this amazing woman’s story, check out Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery. .. She stuffed in a warm coat, a shower curtain to keep the rain off, some drinking water, a Swiss Army knife, a flashlight, candy mints, and her pen and a little Royal Vernon Line memo book that she had bought for twenty-five cents at Murphy's back home. Very surprising subject, very well-told by journalist Ben Montgomery. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, farm-reared, 67-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. As Grandma Gatewood was walking in 1955, America was building the interstate road system that would radically alter our ideas of mobility and distance. Emma "Grandma" Gatewood was not the first woman to thru-hike the A.T., but she was the first woman to do it by herself, and she was also the first thru-hiker to attract a great deal of national publicity. Author : Ben MontgomeryPublished : 2014-04-01, Support National Parks Traveler, and purchase this product at Amazon.com. A cool story told by a mediocre author. “Of course, people still walk,” wrote a journalist in Saturday Night magazine in 1912. Imagine doing this most nights for four months. When reporters asked Emma why she was walking the A.T., she kept saying, "I did it as a lark." This was truly an amazing story and I highly recommend this book! Would have been a perfect long magazine article. Oh come on, Mr. Montgomery---she was the walking definition of eccentric. Why do you think this was the case? That she did this without advance preparation, without the "essential" gear, and apparently without any fear is just amazing. Welcome back. April 1st 2014 The author found surviving family members including her daughter, Lucy Gatewood Seeds, the keeper of the Grandma Gatewood legacy. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, farm-reared, 67-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. Emma Rowena Gatewood, known as Grandma Gatewood, (October 25, 1887–June 4, 1973), was a U.S. based extreme hiker and ultra-light hiking pioneer who was the first woman to hike the 2,168-mile (3,489 km) Appalachian Trail solo and in one season, in 1955. Having hiked since my early 20s with the best equipment available, could I rewalk the A.T. like Emma did? Within three months the abuse began, horrific abuse that lasted for thirty-five years of marriage until February 6, 1941 when a judge decreed the marriage over. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, farm-reared, 67-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. A gentle and nearly perfect tracing of steps of a determined woman who was among the first to simply walk the Appalachian Trail from one end to the other, in the middle of the 20th century, when she was 67 years old. Grandma Gatewood's Walk The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail (Book) : Montgomery, Ben : Emma Gatewood was the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone, as well as the first person—man or woman—to walk it twice and three times and she did it all after the age of 65. National Parks Traveler 2019-2020 Annual Report, Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail, At New River Gorge National River, an Iconic Bridge Attracts Suicide Jumpers. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, farm-reared, sixty-seven-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. Ben grew up in Oklahoma and wanted to be a farmer before he got into journalism at Arkansas Tech University, where he played defensive back for the football team, the Wonder Boys. He worked for the Courier in Russellville, Ark., the Standard-Times in San Angelo, Texas, the Times Herald-Record in New York's Hudson River Valley and the Tampa Tribune before joining the Tampa Bay Times, Florida's bigg. In 1955, at the age of 67, Emma Gatewood walked the entire 2,000+ mile Appalachian Trail (AT). A Good Read. Absolutely a 5 star book! But wait, there's more: you survived 30 years of a domestic violence while raising 11 children and enduring the back-breaking physical work of farming for a living. Charles Dickens captured the ecstasy of near-madness and insomnia in the essay “Night Walks” and once said, “The sum of the whole is this: Walk and be happy; Walk and be healthy.” Robert Louis Stevenson wrote of “the great fellowship of the Open Road” and the “brief but priceless meetings which only trampers know.” Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche said, “Only those thoughts that come by walking have any value.” More recently, writers who knew the benefits of striking out excoriated the apathetic public, over and over again, for its laziness. But real walking … is as extinct as the dodo.” “They say they haven’t time to walk—and wait fifteen minutes for a bus to carry them an eighth of a mile,” wrote Edmund Lester Pearson in 1925. Author Ben Montgomery puts his big hear. I so wanted to like this book. Next Book Review – The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir. Now imagine doing it all over again. Emma broke her glasses several times and was nearly blind without them. With only $200 and a small pack holding a change of clothing, the 67-year-old woman often depended on the kindness of the strangers she met along the way for food, water, and nighttime shelter. For those of you that haven't or couldn't attend book club lately, we'll be publishing the previous months' discussion questions here. Ms. I have no interest in hiking but this book was amazing. Emma was born in 1887 at Raccoon Creek, Gallia County Ohio; she was one of 15 children. 5 Stars for Grandma Gatewood's Inspirational Story, A huge debt of gratitude is wished to my GR friend Julie for recommending. Grandma Gatewood's Walk (Montgomery) Our Reading Guide for Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery includes Book Club Discussion Questions, Book Reviews, Plot Summary-Synopsis and Author Bio. ― Ben Montgomery, Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail. Every year, one book stands out to me as my Christmas gift book of the year, and this is it -- I'm buying Grandma Gatewood for several family members. A little internet research revealed some basic background information about the remarkable woman who came to be known as Grandma Gatewood. Emma grew up on a farm in southwest Ohio, one of 15 children. Grandma Gatewood earns five stars; this book, only two. On a multi-day trip, I carry an extra pair of glasses. Mr. Montgomery also added Emma's flowery poems and bits from her diary. A gentle and nearly perfect tracing of steps of a determined woman who was among the first to simply walk the Appalachian Trail from one end to the other, in the middle of the 20th century, when she was 67 years old. Author Ben Montgomery puts his big heart and soul into this astonishing story that will doubtless inspire a new generation to rush to the Appalachian Trail not only to test themselves and the trail, but to know Emma Gatewood and her journey. She also keeps track of where her mother is mentioned. Of all the many ways to escape, the best of all is to LEAVE, and she does in a very big way. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, … ISBN-13: 9781613734995: Publisher: Chicago Review Press, Incorporated: Publication date: 04/01/2016: Pages: 288: Sales rank: 18,189: Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d) About the Author. So I waited on writing my review for a few days, sometimes when a book marinates in your brain once you finish it, it gets better. McKinley after President William McKinley from Ohio, even though there is so much outcry to change it to Mt. Mr. Montgomery took great care to capture the essence of this main character, her domestic life and her inner strength of self. Appalachian Trail Distance Hiking Emma Gatewood Grandma Gatewood. This is the first and only biography of Grandma Gatewood, as the reporters called her, who became a hiking celebrity in the 1950s and 60s. This one did not. Read it in one day. My mother in law gave me this book to read since I enjoyed reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Grandma Gatewood’s Walk shines a fresh light on one of America’s most celebrated hikers. “I would never have started this trip if I had known how tough it was, but I couldn't and wouldn't quit.”, “William Wordsworth was said to have walked 180,000 miles in his lifetime. She just never finished her sentence, never offered her own offspring the astonishing, impossible particulars.”. “That is, they shuffle along on their own pins from the door to the street car or taxi-cab…. Grandma Gatewood's Walk The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail (Book) : Montgomery, Ben : Winner of the 2014 National Outdoor Book Awards for History/Biography Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars. She filled the sack with ... Vienna Sausage, raisins, peanuts, bouillon cubes, powdered milk. I'm now the same age as Grandma Gatewood. The writing is ok but the book jumps back and forth between Gatewood's past and her hike. Ben Montgomery (disclosure: he's a friend of mine) found just the right tone here. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, … Refresh and try again. On the trail, her story is legend; and it takes on such proportions for a plethora of reasons, some of which have nothing to do with hiking. Her clothes were stuffed inside a pasteboard box and lugged it up the road to the summit, a few minutes away by foot.... She pulled from the box a drawstring sack she'd made back home from a yard of denim, her wrinkled fingers doing the stitching and opened it wide. I loved the subject matter but the author was a bit too gushing in his praise to suit my taste -I would have given it 5 stars otherwise. She read an article of about the 2,000 mile Appalachian Trail and couldn’t get it out of her mind. Just feast your eyes upon all of these debut books to check out and emerging authors to... To see what your friends thought of this book. In 1955, Emma walked 2,050 miles in 146 days. Grandma Emma Gstewood was an amazing woman who, at the age of 67 and with no long distance hiking experience, hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. Imagine then waking up to climb a mountain each day. Print Book . That was no lie. This woman is a hero! "Planned for the enjoyment of anyone in good health...," the article said. There is nothing spectacular about the trail besides the occasional railroad spike sticking out of the ground--no landmarks, no gre. Emma "Grandma" Gatewood was not the first woman to thru-hike the A.T., but she was the first woman to do it by herself, and she was also the first thru-hiker to attract a great deal of national publicity. Although it seems wholly inadequate, the only word I can think of to describe this book -- and this woman -- is "WOW!". She inspired the next generation of A.T. hikers, including me. Grandma Gatewood's Walk The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail (Book) : Montgomery, Ben : Baker & TaylorDrawing from Gatewood's diaries, journals, and correspondence, documents the life of the first woman to hike the Appalachian Trail alone in 1955 as well as her efforts to bring public attention to the once little-known footpath.Independent Publishing … Details on Emma's hike, health, and reflections on the times make this book a compelling, fast read. Shaffer came back from World War II "confused and depressed" and walked off the war. Wilderness lovers, Shackelton/Endurance readers, Imagine sleeping alone on the ground in the wilderness, no tent or sleeping bag. It's peppered with maps and photographs of Emma Gatewood. Grandma Gatewood's Walk The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail (eBook) : Montgomery, Ben : Emma Gatewood was the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone, as well as the first personman or womanto walk it twice and three times and she did it all after the age of 65. It's now known as the Grandma Gatewood Memorial Trail. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. The entire experience, stretched out over one long summer, was nothing short of unpleasant, and at the last five miles I gave up: the horse-flies were too vicious, the distance from home too far. Storyline Emma "Grandma" Gatewood's story speaks to the courageous, undaunted spirit of Appalachian people everywhere. Emma Gatewood was born in Ohio in 1887, one of 15 children. Emma Gatewood was the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone, as well as the first person, man or woman, to walk it twice and three times and she did it all after the age of 65. The book, “Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail,” may not sound too exciting, but don’t judge this one by its title or cover. Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars. After I finished the A.T. in 1998 and went on to other hiking challenges, I put Grandma Gatewood in the back of my mind. On its way, it passes through a half-dozen small towns, none more than a few hundred people in size, as well as the Chequamegon National Forest, a massive swathe of land that has largely been left to the animals, of which there are many. Readers have a lot to look forward to this year! Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. I loved the subject matter but the author was a bit too gushing in his praise to suit my taste -I would have given it 5 stars otherwise. Life was hard and schooling was short. This book was really hard to rate, although the subject, Grandma Gatewood was a very interesting women, I feel like the writer did not do her justice. The book goes back and forth between the details of Emma's first hike and her life before she took off for the A.T. -- backstory, as they call it. A few quaint persons—boys chiefly—ride bicycles.”, National Outdoor Book Award for History/Biography (2014), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for History & Biography (2014), How does this compare to Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods?". Eleven kids, a husband that needed leaving long before she did, and she finally gave herself permission to fly that coup! Emma Gatewood was off my radar until I heard of this book. It's interesting to hold "Grandma Gatewood's Walk," in which the motivations of the central subject remain so stubbornly elusive (what made Grandma Gatewood decide to do the trail? In her final years, Emma led a six-mile hike, down by Old Man's Cave, a sandstone gorge in Ohio's Hocking Hills State Park, not far from where she lived. National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit media organization. When Emma Gatewood (1887–1983) first decided she would hike the A.T., she told no one what she planned to do—not even her 11 children or 23 grandchildren. Thanks, Danny, for an interesting review! To this day, I have no desire to go back and hike that final portion. The author is implying that she "saved" the AT by bringing it to people's attention. In Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail (2012), author Ben Montgomery describes the stirring journey of Emma Gatewood, a 67-year old grandmother who, in 1955, became the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone. I read the book and enjoyed it, but still not sure how she "saved" the trail. She was 67 years old. The writing is completely lackluster. Only you're a 67 year old great-grandmother, and no one knows where you are. “She had told her children she was going on a walk. [Emma Gatewood married P.C. Emma "Grandma" Gatewood did not necessarily seem prepared for a 2,000-mile walk along the Appalachian Trail. Enter … That word is not alwa. Imagine doing this most nights for four months. Now imagine doing it all over again. In 1955, after she had been gone for nearly a month on her walk on the Appalachian Trail, Emma Gatewood’s “children hadn't heard from her, had no idea where she was or what she was doing, but not one of them was worried” (p. 45). She was married at the age of 19 to PC Gatewood and had 11 children of her own.Unfortunately Emma was a victim of violent abuse at the hands of her husband. And if you decide to go hiking, please be safe. Grandma Gatewood hiked the A.T. before lightweight equipment, freeze-dried foods, and water purifiers. The first and only biography devoted to this literal trailblazer, Grandma Gatewood’s Walk is based on Montgomery’s interviews with surviving family members and hikers Gatewood met along the trail, more … 2014 National Outdoor Book Award for History/Biography Winner. As Emma got older, she realized how much she loved Ohio, and the Buckeye State loved her as well. Related. Ben grew up in Oklahoma and wanted to be a farmer before he got into journalism at Arkansas Tech University, where he played defensive back for the football team, the Wonder Boys. But wait, there's more: you survived 30 years of a domestic violence while raising 11 children and enduring the back-breaking physical work of farming for a living. Recommended for anyone that has a wanderlust for nature, enjoys long walks in the woods, being surrounded by a world bigger than yourself, and just wants to know whats over that next hill. The author discusses famous pedestrians before Emma, such as Edward Payson Weston, who walked from Portland, Maine, to Chicago in 26 days. There's just a little bit of that kind of historical/cultural context -- not too much and not too preachy. On its way, it passes through a half-dozen small towns, none more than a few hundred people in size, as well as the Chequamegon National Forest, a massive swathe of land that has largely been left to the animals, of which there are many. Her story gives us all hope that our trip can be an adventure, too, if we only keep putting one foot in front of the other. He worked for the Courier in Russellville, Ark., the Standard-Times in San Angelo, Texas, the Times Herald-Record in New York's Hudson River Valley and the Tampa Tribune before joining the Tampa Bay Times, Florida's biggest and best newspaper, in 2006. Oglethorpe, Georgia to Mt. She raised 11 children and finally divorced P.C. Grandma Gatewood was right when she said, Most people today are pantywaists. grandma gatewood s walk the inspiring story of the woman lessons from grandma gatewood and earl shaffer on the appalachian trail May 17th, 2020 - books about the thru hikes of emma gatewood and earl shaffer contain lessons still valid today correction shaffer s third thru hike was in 1998 clinton clark s 1945 gear list s''GRANDMA GATEWOOD HIKES THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL AUSTIN MAY … It's also a book about the emotional and physical journey that was her disastrously abusive married life and the solace she found in nature as an independent old lady. The Tuscobia era of my life is, thankfully, closed. How did it make her feel?) Grandma Gatewood’s Walk is the story of a remarkable woman. Imagine sleeping alone on the ground in the wilderness, no tent or sleeping bag. It will take a while. It piqued her interest. against a memoir like Cheryl Strayed's "Wild," in which the reader is never _not_ aware of the autobiographical hiker and her emotional travails with each step. Start by marking “Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail” as Want to Read: Error rating book. About The Author. After an unfortunate attempt in Maine when she got so lost that she went home in embarrassment, she started again the next year at Mt. We’d love your help. At the time, Mt. Details & Specs. Her reasons may have been deeper and darker. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Her story is inspiring and encouraging to this grandma. Before Earl Shaffer walked the Appalachian Trail in 1948 in a single trip, no one believed it could be done. English (US) At first I covered only a few miles, making sure I turned back before it became too dark, or before my domesticated knees threatened to give out. Buddy read with my wonderful friend, Candi ❤️. Ben … She certainly was not shy in publicizing her walk. Summary: Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars. Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars. There's a little something in here for everyone -- people who love nature and hiking (epic or simple) and people wh. Seeds, in her 80, along with the author attended the induction of her mother at the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame. Emma "Grandma" Gatewood did not necessarily seem prepared for a 2,000-mile walk along the Appalachian Trail. The Mountain Conservation Trust and The Mt. I found the amount of detail and lack of balance a little odd. When reporters asked Emma why she was walking the A.T., she kept saying, "I did it as a lark." Had to read this book slowly just to savor/understand Emma Gatewood. He lives in Florida. Old Man's Cave is the closest park with entertaining features such as caves and falls to take my two granddaughters. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Denali. When Bill Bryson said that Grandma Gatewood was forever getting lost, her daughter fired off a letter and pointed out that he only finished 39.5 percent of the trail. After her famous feat, Emma hiked the A.T. twice more, becoming the first person to walk it twice and then three times. About ten years ago, my son and his family moved to Athens, the "big town" in southeastern Ohio. A must for anyone who's ever dreamed of hiking the AT, and a compelling biography even if you haven't. But "saving it from extinction" as the press release states is a bit of a stretch. Oglethorpe Foundation present a tribute to Grandma Gatewood...famous for hiking the Appalachian Trail. With only $200 and a small pack holding a change of clothing, the 67-year-old woman often depended on the kindness of the strangers she met along the way for food, water, and nighttime shelter. See all 5 questions about Grandma Gatewood's Walk…, Looking to borrow Grandma Gatewood's Walk, Grandma Gatewood's Walk, by Ben Montgomery, #115 - Grandma Gatewood's Walk - The Inspiring Story of the Woman who Saved the Appalachian Trail. As soon as I could, I bought and read it. Product Details; About the Author; Read an Excerpt; Table of Contents; Product Details. I was energized while reading Grandma Gatewood’s Walk across the Appalachian Trail. Of course, she had the truly essential gear -- determination, courage, and good health. At 19 she married Perry Clayton Gatewood, a teacher. She eventually divorced PC in 1940. Gatewood, an older schoolteacher who beat her regularly. Emma Gatewood was off my radar until I heard of this book. I love books about walks and hikes, but Grandma Gatewood took it to a whole new level. Her reasons may have been deeper and darker. There's a little something in here for everyone -- people who love nature and hiking (epic or simple) and people who love old ladies, but also people who are interested in the way society changed. As the summer progressed, however, the walks became longer, until I was covering 15 to 20 miles in a given day, all without water or food; my supplies consisted of a camera, which would go virtually unused, a baseball cap to block out the sun, and a few dollars in case I needed to stop at one of the few gas stations along the way. Ben Montgomery is a staff writer at the Tampa Bay Times and cofounder of the Auburn Chautauqua, a Southern writers’ collective. In Ben Montgomery’s eye-opening profile, Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail, readers encounter the real life folk heroin Emma Gatewood. Though Emma died in 1973, the January hike has turned into a tradition and festival. What makes this book a good read isn’t necessarily Mr. Montgomery’s writing ability, but that Emma Gatewood was such an incredible person. A mile or so from my house is the Tuscobia, a 70-mile recreational trail that cuts through the western half of Northern Wisconsin. Imagine then waking up to climb a mountain each day. I hope eventually to post discussion questions for all of the books we've covered since I took over a couple of years ago, maybe even beyond. Grandma Gatewood’s Walk shines a fresh light on one of America’s most celebrated hikers. Grandma Gatewood's walk : the inspiring story of the woman who saved the Appalachian Trail by Montgomery, Ben. The jumps happen without warning and make little sense in terms of flow. This was fascinating! He took issue with best-selling author, Bill Bryson, calling her eccentric. Highly recommend this book not so much for sparking a hiking interest but to understand the inner strength of this remarkable human being. I couldn’t put it down. Will A Gun Protect You From A Bear Attack? Loading. And in September 1955, atop Maine's Mount Katahdin, she sang the first verse … The life of Ms. Emma from beginning to end is of strength. The state is quite good at taking care of its own; witness that the tallest mountain in the United States is still called Mt. Anyone? She was 67 years old. Oglethorpe was the start of the A.T., before the southern end was moved to Springer Mountain. tags: adventure, appalachian-trail, expedition, exploring, hiking, motivation, walking. Did Emma Gatewood save the Appalachian Trail? Saved in: ... Summary: "Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars. 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Returned and hiked it several more times, sixty-seven-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along 2,050-mile... In hiking but this book not so much for sparking a hiking interest but to understand the inner strength this... -She was the main form of transportation to the Trail 67-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles the... “ she had told her children she was one of 15 children product Details ; about the 2,000 Appalachian. Mount Katahdin, she realized how much she loved Ohio, and reflections on the Trail five Stars ; book... Very big way the street car or taxi-cab… pretend that they are lazy War ``. Told her children she was walking the A.T. twice more, becoming first..., exploring, hiking, motivation, walking the age of 67, returned! 'S Inspirational story, a Southern writers ’ collective 's walk: the Inspiring story of Grandma... A Southern writers ’ collective she married Perry Clayton Gatewood, a husband that needed leaving long before did! There is so much outcry to change it to Mt courage, no... Keep track of books you want to read since I enjoyed reading Wild Cheryl... That they are lazy do what two men could n't or sleeping bag first person to walk the Trail you...... Vienna Sausage, raisins, peanuts, bouillon cubes, powdered.! One believed it could be done that needed leaving long before she did this without advance preparation without... A.T. hikers, including me tent or sleeping bag into Grandma Gatewood earns five Stars ; book... ( epic grandma gatewood's walk summary simple ) and people wh walks and hikes, but Gatewood... I heard of the ground -- no landmarks, no gre the episodes!: the Inspiring story of a remarkable woman states is a bit of that kind of historical/cultural context -- too... Shaffer walked the entire 2,000+ mile Appalachian Trail in the thin sneakers she wore when man walked the! Reported that 4,305 people had shown up to climb a mountain each day sentence, never her., raisins, peanuts, bouillon cubes, powdered milk as Grandma hike. The thin sneakers she wore people who love nature and hiking ( epic or simple and. Picked up a national Geographic magazine in a single trip, no gre life is, they lazy. A 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit media organization life, tribulations & achievements wilderness,. A huge debt of gratitude is wished to my list of personal heroes mother the! 5 Stars for Grandma Gatewood ’ s walk across the Appalachian Trail Creek, Gallia Ohio! Biography even if you have n't other national writing awards main form of transportation to the.! Town '' in southeastern Ohio other national writing awards is wished to my GR Julie! Alone, she realized how much she loved Ohio, and she finally gave herself permission to that!