- Grandma Gatewood
Grandma Emma Gatewood (1888–1973), an extreme hiker and ultra-light hiking pioneer who was the first woman to hike the 2,168-mile
Appalachian Trail from Georgia toMaine solo.Freeling, Elisa (November/December 2002), "When Grandma Gatewood hiked the Appalachian Trail". "Sierra". 87 (6):26]Family life
Gatewood was an
Ohio farmer's wife who had eleven children and 23 grandchildren. Local newspapers picked up on her story, leading to a profile in "Sports Illustrated " and an appearance on the "Today Show".Feat
She hiked the trail in 1955 at the age of 67, wearing Keds sneakers and carrying an army blanket, a raincoat, and a plastic shower curtain which she carried in a homemade bag slung over one shoulder, thus making her a pioneer of
Ultralight backpacking . She hiked it again in 1960 and then again at age 75 in 1963, making her the first person to hike the trail three times (though her final hike was completed in sections). She is also credited with being the oldest female thru-hiker by theAppalachian Trail Conference . [ [http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.851151/k.4C05/Noteworthy_2000Milers.htm "Appalachian Trail Conservancy" Noteworthy 2000-Milers] ]Inspiration
Gatewood first hiked the trail after reading about it in a magazine. "I thought it would be a nice lark," she said, adding "It wasn't." Another time she complained "For some fool reason, they always lead you right up over the biggest rock to the top of the biggest mountain they can find."
She also walked 2000 miles of the
Oregon Trail fromIndependence, Missouri , toPortland, Oregon , averaging 22 miles a day.References
External links
* [http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.851151/k.4C05/Noteworthy_2000Milers.htm ATC Photo of Gatewood]
* [http://www.hockinghills.com/i_grandm.htm Biography] at Hockinghills.com
* [http://www.friendsofhockinghills.org/Old_Mans_Cave.asp Hiking] in Hocking Hills, Ohio
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