Grandma Gatewood's Walk

The true story of Emma Gatewood, a 67-year-old great-grandmother from Ohio who, in 1955, became the first woman to solo thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail. She did it in canvas sneakers, carrying a homemade denim bag slung over one shoulder, without a tent, sleeping bag, or any of the gear that modern hikers consider essential.

Why This Book

Emma Gatewood’s story demolishes every excuse you have ever made for not going outside. She had survived decades of domestic abuse, raised eleven children, and decided in her late sixties that she wanted to walk from Georgia to Maine. When reporters asked why, she said she thought it would be “a nice lark.” She completed the trail in 146 days, became a national celebrity, and went on to hike it two more times.

Ben Montgomery’s telling of her story is meticulously researched and deeply moving. He draws on Gatewood’s own journals, newspaper interviews, and family accounts to reconstruct the journey mile by mile. The book captures both the physical challenge of the hike and the social context of 1950s America, where a grandmother doing something this unconventional was genuinely shocking.

For beginners, the most inspiring thing about Gatewood’s story is her approach to gear. While other hikers carried heavy packs full of specialized equipment, she packed a shower curtain for shelter, a raincoat, a blanket, and some food. She ate wild plants along the trail and slept in shelters or under the stars. Her philosophy was simple: you do not need much to walk in the woods.

What to Expect

A well-paced narrative history at 288 pages. Montgomery alternates between the trail narrative and Gatewood’s earlier life, revealing the hardships that forged her remarkable toughness. The writing is clear and respectful, never sensationalizing either the abuse she endured or the physical demands of the hike. It reads quickly and leaves you with a deep admiration for a woman who refused to let anyone define her limits.