Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story Of The Woman Who Saved The Appalachian Trail (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
I don't know how I'd managed to not know about Emma Gatewood prior to picking up this book. She was quite well known back in the later 1950's for what was then a singular feat, through walking the entire Appalachian Trail ... In fact the first woman, and certainly the oldest person to attempt it, much less complete the walk 3 times, as a senior. She was 67 the first time, which is the focus of this fascinating book. The trail at the time was only about 10 years old and already falling into disrepair in parts, with tumble down shelters, damaged trails, few markings, signage or guides. Grandma Gatewood took off seemingly I'll prepared and inappropriately outfitted. Her homemade denim bag had no straps, was not waterproof and she carried it over her shoulder. She wore Keds canvas shoes (wore out 7 pair altogether the first trek) and had what today might be considered woefully inadequate and inappropriate clothing ... No Leatherman tool, no tent or sleeping bag, no freeze dried food, no camp cooking pots or stove... Little food or money. What she did have is an indomitable spirt and stamina and a slim walking stick. Often having to sleep hard... Ie, in the open, using leaves as a mattress and only a blanket to keep her self warm. She'd ask at homes along the way for a bed for the night, but often had to sleep on a picnic table or an exposed and leaky lean to on the trail. Sometimes she had to share shelters with other hikers and once with a curious porcupine. Soon enough her fame grew and the press would seek her out. She was interviewed and written up in newspapers along the way. Sports Illustrated covered her trek to the end. She was on TV.Author Ben Montgomery has a sparse writing style which seems quite appropriate for a woman such as Emma, who was decidedly no nonsense after having had 11 kids, endured a lousy violent marriage and had modest tastes. Her only personal indulgence in her later years was travel, mostly on long distance walks. She was often asked why she embarked on such journeys at her age. Her answers were usually offhand and nonspecific. Montgomery, after fully researching her story, reading her journals, talking to surviving family, decides that an answer she made to one enquiring reporter was probably closest to the truth. "Why? Because I wanted to". Sounds good to me. Now, where are my walking shoes? A journalist's nonfiction book about "Grandma Gatewood," the first woman (at 67!) to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, in 1954. She then did it two more times, and also hiked the Oregon Trail and a number of other long walks. Discussions of "pedestrianism" in America and elsewhere ensue. He cobbled together all the information about her adventures from her journals, from those who knew her, and from articles written at the time.It is unavoidable that this book reminded me of both Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" and Cheryl Strayed's "Wild" the entire time. Which is not a bad thing. I did find that I wasn't quite as engaged in this story as those other two, however, probably because I wasn't in the hiker's head as much. Both Bryson and Strayed authored their own memoirs, but with Grandma Gatewood, we only have her writings and hearsay. I felt a bit more detached with this book. But I still enjoyed it. It's just not one I would effusively recommend to anyone but passionate hikers.
What do You think about Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story Of The Woman Who Saved The Appalachian Trail (2014)?
This is on feisty lady. Walked the entire Appalachian Trail not once, not twice, but three times!
—Kiera
An inspiring, fascinating story! I hope to be as active 30-40 years from now. :)
—sodapop
The first woman to walk the entire Appalachian Trail. Very interesting.
—belrpilotto
