Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail in Clean Reads

Mar 07, 2024 Marilee rated it really liked it

I had no idea who Grandma Gatewood was until my husband started reading this book. It sounded interesting enough for me to pick up and I'm so glad I did. Grandma Gatewood was a great grandmother who walked the complete Appalachian trail by herself in the 1950's, back when only a handful of men had completed the feat. I feel like she had luck on her side, because she didn't carry much with her and the trail wasn't as well established then. Things got a bit dicey a few times when she got lost or r ...more

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Mar 19, 2023 Heather rated it it was amazing

A delightful, true story about a grandma who accomplished amazing feats of hiking and walking. I couldn't stop talking about her grit, bravery, and ingenuity. She made me want to get out and walk more...we are so quick to hop in the car for even the smallest errand when we could/should be walking. She inspired me to want to hike more and get out in nature and try to enjoy it. (That isn't always easy for me). It also made me really want to see the Appalachian Trail someday. ...more

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Sep 25, 2021 Val rated it really liked it

Shelves: biography, adventure

Grandma Gatewood is a most admirable woman. In 1955, at the age of 66, she became the first woman, and only the second person, to walk the entire Appalachian Trail non-stop. She did it in tennis shoes, without a sleeping bag, and without the camping supplies we would deem necessary today. At that time, very few people walked the trail at all, most people knew very little about it. Grandma Gatewood changed all that. She became a media sensation even while she was hiking the trail. Additionally, s ...more

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Sep 15, 2016 Jodi rated it really liked it

I'm a sucker for inspirational biographies and this book fit right in. I so admire Emma Gatewood and her independent spirit, her courage, and her desire to do things her way, rather than let society (or even common sense) dictate to her. My own Grandma never hiked the Appalachian trail but she was feisty and independent and Grandma Gatewood reminded me of her. Emma Gatewood didn't let the challenges of her life define her or stop her from chasing her dreams. Great lessons for all of us! ...more

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Nov 04, 2014 Beth Given rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio

I really enjoyed this well-told story of Emma Gatewood, the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine (a distance of 2000+ miles). "Grandma" Gatewood was plucky and determined and, consequently, inspiring; readers can't help but cheer her on and want to follow in her Keds-shod footsteps. When Emma finished the Appalacian Trail she did it again (Maine to Georgia this time), and when she finished that, she hiked the Oregon Trail, "for a lark."

The author of this tale de ...more

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Sep 09, 2021 Jenn rated it really liked it

Pretty cool how much she hiked so much at such an advanced age and with such few supplies!! She lived a hard life and I’m sure that helped get her through some of the miserable times.

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