Grandma Gatewood's Walk cover art

Grandma Gatewood's Walk

The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail

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Grandma Gatewood's Walk

By: Ben Montgomery
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
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About this listen

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 $200. 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. And in September 1955, atop Maine's Mount Katahdin, she sang the first verse of "America, the Beautiful" and proclaimed, "I said I'll do it, and I've done it." Grandma Gatewood, as the reporters called her, became 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. The public attention she brought to the little-known footpath was unprecedented. Her vocal criticism of the lousy, difficult stretches led to bolstered maintenance, and very likely saved the trail from extinction.

©2014 Ben Montgomery (P)2014 Tantor Adventure Travel Americas Environment Hiking Nature & Ecology North America Outdoors & Nature Science Sports History State & Local United States Women Conservation Adventure Sports

Critic Reviews

"A quiet delight of a book." ( Kirkus)
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Grandma Gatewood loves what we would consider today to be an extraordinary life and this audiobook brings her to life with stories from family, friends and Emma’s own words and poetry. It is well structured and written.

Great story of an amazing woman

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Absolutely loved this story. As a hiker of a certain age I found it fascinating.
Well written and narrated.
I'm surprised I have never heard of this amazing lady, Grandma Gatewood before which saddens me

Inspirational story

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Revealed the unexpected story of how she dealt with dreadful domestic violence, found respite and turned her resilience into her strength. Provided a fresh perspective on the history of the AT, and how she was a key figure in shifting public interest in trail walking. A remarkable woman that I was previously unaware of.

A woman’s grit and determination on the AT, but so much more.

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I enjoyed this so much . Im not a long distance hiker but I got a taste of it in this book. Emma Gatewood's story is inspiring, heartbreaking and shows the strength of human spirit. An incredible woman and a story told with kindness and reverence.

Riveting read of an extraordinary woman.

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A grandma hiking a few thousands of miles and becoming a celebrity at an old age! follow your heart and dreams and you shall see how it can change a good part of human kind!

Worth a listen! Remarkable story of a lady

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More American history than the story of Emma's travels and most definitely not a first hand account. Very disappointing

Not what it's supposed to be

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