So, who exactly is Grandma Gatewood? In 1955, after raising 11 children, Emma "Grandma" Gatewood became the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail - at the tender age of 67! In September of that year, having survived a rattlesnake strike, two hurricanes and a run-in with gangsters from Harlem, she stood atop Maine’s Mount Katahdin. Upon completion, she reportedly sang the first verse of "America the Beautiful," and then exclaimed, "I did it. I said I'd do it and I've done it."
Then, in 1957, she hiked the trail again, becoming the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail twice. And, just to prove those first two weren't a fluke, she hiked it again in 1964 - at the age of 76! After the third excursion Emma became the first person to hike the 2,179-mile trail on three different occasions.
This video below provides a few insights into Gatewood's life, tribulations & achievements:
You can read more about the pioneers of hiking in Ramble On: A History of Hiking.
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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.
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