Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery

I just finished reading Grandma Gatewood’s Walk about a  67 year old grandmother who was the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. I love the outdoors and have walked 1800+ miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and pieces of the AT but was blown away and inspired at the same time with this woman who walked the AT at 67 years old, then again as a thru-hike, AND again in sections.

Oh yeah, she also walked the Oregon Trail from Missouri to Portland Oregon, and the Long Trail in Vermont. Ben Montgomery does a great job at telling Emma’s story from the terrible beatings from her husband, to her many walks, and her independence and resiliency.

If you are a hiker or a lover of the outdoors, read this book.

Here is a poem from the book written by Emma Gatewood

If you’ll go with me to the mountains

And sleep on the leaf carpeted floors

And enjoy the bigness of nature

And the beauty of all out-of-doors,

You’ll find your troubles all fading

And feel the Creator was not man

That made lovely mountains and forests

Which only a Supreme Power can.

When we trust in the Power above

And with the realm of nature hold fast,

We will have a jewel of great price

To brighten our lives till the last.

For the love of nature is healing.

If we will only give it a try

And our reward will be forthcoming,

If we go deeper than what meets the eye.