Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail

by Ben Montgomery

FARMINGTON, Maine (UP)—A 67-year-old grandmother from Gallipolis, Ohio neared the end of a [2,050] mile hike on the Appalachian Trail today. Mrs. Emma Gatewood, the hiker, is within 110 miles of her destination—Mt. Katahdin, Maine. She expects to reach the mountain in a fortnight. Mrs. Gatewood, a sturdy five feet, four inches, started from Oglethorpe, Ga., on the Appalachian Trail last May 2. Mt. Katahdin is the end of the trail. Mrs. Gatewood carries a light shoulder pack with a raincoat, blanket and enough food to last her between stopovers. She walks only about eight miles a day now because of a lame leg. Why the long walk? Mrs. Gatewood, who has 11 children, 23 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, put it this way: “After 20 years of hanging diapers and seeing my children grow up and go their own way, I decided to take a walk—one I always wanted to take.”