Bibliograph

Grandma Gatewood's walk, the inspiring story of the woman who saved the Appalachian Trail, Ben Montgomery

Type

Label

Grandma Gatewood's walk, the inspiring story of the woman who saved the Appalachian Trail, Ben Montgomery

Language

eng

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Grandma Gatewood's walk

Nature of contents

dictionaries

Responsibility statement

Ben Montgomery

Sub title

the inspiring story of the woman who saved the Appalachian Trail

Summary

Emma Gatewood was 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 and she did it all after the age of 65. This is the first and only biography of Grandma Gatewood, as the reporters called her, who became a hiking celebrity in the 1950s and 60s. She appeared on TV with Groucho Marx and Art Linkletter, and on the pages of Sports Illustrated. 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. Author Ben Montgomery was given unprecedented access to Gatewood's own diaries, trail journals, and correspondence. He also unearthed historic newspaper and magazine articles and interviewed surviving family members and hikers Gatewood met along the trail. The inspiring story of Emma Gatewood illustrates the full power of human spirit and determination

Target audience

adult

Classification