Welcome to Litsy!

Emma Gatewood walked the Appalachian Trail starting in her late 60‘s. Her first attempt was Southbound and she didn‘t get far before an injury sent her home, but less than 2 years later she started again Northbound this time and through hiked from Georgia to Maine. She was the first woman to do it, and in the first 5 people recorded as through hiking it.

The AT is part of my family‘s history, so I loved learning about Grandma Gatewood.
(CWs)

#daysdevotedto #hiking

https://connect.clickandpledge.com/w/Form/a5d60e56-25e3-4754-b4f0-96c514fe2954?6...

The plus side of so many of my non fiction library loans coming due soon: it's finally boosted me over my 21% plateau for 2024! We'll see if I can keep it up for the rest of the year. 😅

I enjoyed the recounted walk(s), how primary sources like interviews, correspondence and journal entries, become a cohesive narrative of Emma's experience. I understand the inclusion of times from Emma's life before the walk to acquaint the reader with her, but the amount of time spent on her experiencing an abusive relationship, though it did take up a large portion of her life, the pacing of it, perhaps to build tension, when we're talking 1/?

☺️

What struck me most about this book is Emma's indomitable spirit and unwavering determination. Despite facing countless obstacles and societal expectations, she fearlessly embarked on her solo trek, proving that age and gender are no barriers to adventure and achievement....
Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6433584584

I complained about this book at length on Goodreads, and on my blog. Short version: Emma Gatewood was amazing. Ben Montgomery's writing sucked, and the entire rhythm of this book made no sense. What I actually need are Emma's diaries.

#BookSpin - February
#ReadtheUSA2024 - Maine
#GottaCatchEmAll - Nature Featured Prominently @PuddleJumper
#BookSpinBingo

I enjoyed this book more than I expected, and I especially appreciated that her daughter pushed back against Bill Bryson‘s snotty description of her as someone who got lost a lot. The author argues that her criticism of the trail‘s condition at the time led to necessary improvements and the notoriety of her trip contributed to the trail‘s increased popularity.

Anyway, I finished this and Murder at Midnight for #20in4 and now onto the next!

What an inspiring woman!!!
This woman had a tough life but made the best of it after her divorce. Reading how she hiked through the AT and the Oregon Trail really made me appreciate my opportunities to be able to hike. I have added the Grandma Gatewood Trail in Ohio to my bucket list. 4⭐️

#bookspinbingo #11 #ispybingo
@TheAromaofBooks @Clwojick

I am finishing the current tagged book and yeah, I wouldn't mind being transported to the Appalachian Mountains, as long as I had the necessary tools 😅.

#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

I am back from my trip and it's time for me to catch up on some reads. I still need to finish my July book for #titlesandtunes but here's my #TheWorldIsMyOyster post.

Title: Grandma Gatewood's Walk (a woman who did not let age stop her from hiking the Appalachian Trail more than once).

Tunes...these two songs really pump me up when I hear them. They make me dance and smile. They make me feel that I can do anything I set my mind to. ⬇️

Wonderful! In 1955, Emma Gatewood, 67, mother (of 11!), grandmother, great-grandmother and domestic abuse survivor, sets off on her own to hike the Appalachian Trail. She said the woods made her feel more contented. A walk for solitude, peace and serenity. A walk “because it was there” and it “seemed like a good lark.” Inspiring and just a great story.

#NaturaLitsyBingo2023 Nature & Well-being

It's my day off but it my be too early for wine. 😅So my poison for breakfast is coffee.

#EasterOMC #picturechallenge
@Clwojick @LadyKatrina

Ebony loves to snuggle 💕
#LitsyPets

#EasterOMC #picturechallenge
@Clwojick @LadyKatrina

While I think Emma Gatewood herself is AMAZING, taking the 2050 mile walk at 67 in regular clothes, tennis shoes & a shower curtain to keep the rain off her. She‘s certainly a tenacious character.
But how it is written was not my favorite. Random bits of history (like the HBomb test in Bikini Atoll)& blurbs of others who walked the trail or walked somewhere in general 😂I wish it had more of her own words/postcards/journaling.
🏔️
#20in4

I finished this up today and really liked it. To me, Emma Gatewood‘s story is inspiring. She was not only the first woman to do a thru walk of the Appalachian Trail alone, but she was the first person to do it twice. And she did it again, but in sections. She also walked the Oregon Trail. I liked that we get some information about her life before this, and that Montgomery includes what‘s happening in the world while she‘s walking. #audiowalk

I have been inspired by this book to think about hiking at least part of the Appalachian Trail. My sister said she‘d always wanted to do that and that she‘d do it with me. So I guess we‘ll see. #audiowalk

I realized that I have this from the library, and it needs to be returned soon, so I put aside A Twist of the Knife (which I have from ScribD) to listen to Grandma Gatewood. I‘m liking it so far. I walked on my university‘s campus today. It was really empty! #audiowalk

Here are the books that I am contemplating. Let me know if any of these sound good.

@smalldogs_bigbooks2419 @Bookwormjillk
#litsymarkup #round16 #groupC #LMPBC
@suvata

Heard this was good!

Fantastic read! I hope to one day follow in her footsteps.

Really enjoying this one. 🥾 Hopefully one of these days I‘ll make it to the AT.

Day 5- Take a Bookish Hike

I am fascinated with this story! In 1955, Gatewood became the first woman to walk the entire 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail, from Mount Oglethorpe in northern Georgia to the top of Mount Katahdin in Maine —— a journey that took Gatewood 146 days. #litsysummercamp @ImperfectCJ

#bookspin - March #msplbookclub @TheAromaofBooks

This is a 💎 of a 📖!! Grandma Gatewood wakes the Appalachian Trail (& many others) after the age of 67. She and the author have inspired me to get back to walking places. I used to walk everywhere as a kid!
Learning about her life and her legacy was eye opening. Totally recommend!! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Road trip to Ga to drop my oldest off to thru hike the Appalachian Trail. We listened to this book on the way down. He was thoroughly interested in it and definitely had some take always. When things get tough, I hope he thinks of Emma Gatewood. I reminded him, “it took putting one foot in front of the other - five million times” Wish him luck because as excited I am for his adventure, I‘ll be a nervous wreck the next 5-6 months!

#litsyspringbreak #hike

I‘ve always liked hiking and this looks like a interesting read.

I cannot resist a story about distance hikers. This book, while not perfect, was better than most. I admire Grandma Gatewood‘s grit- this hike isn‘t something I would do without the guarantee of a daily shower and fresh clothes. The above picture is from Ohio‘s Buckeye Trail- a 1440 mile trail that Gatewood helped establish.

No offense meant for Grandma Gatewood - her story is an inspirational story, and I‘m sure it would be a hoot to have heard her talk about her adventure. The low rating is really due to the construction of the book. I wish the writing was as glowing and glowing throughout the entire book rather than at the end. Too choppy in a way, and I think it‘s because every detail from her journal is used. I can see why people gush over this, but not for me.⬇️

Barely a pick, no reflection on grandma gatewood she's amazing, but if she wrote it in her journal it's in the book. Helped that I listened while walking on local trails.
First woman to thru hike the Appalachian trail and she did it in 1955 at the age of 67. Author interspersed events of the day and surprisingly her abusive marriage.
#nonfiction2019 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa something inspirational as I've always wanted to thru hike the trail.

Look at the cutie I came across on my #audiowalk !😯😄❤
It's a paved path and I did check and make sure it made it across ok.

You go, Granny Gatewood! What an inspirational tale! Emma Gatewood, from Gallipolis, OH (one county over from me), walked the Appalachian Trail 3 times in its entirety. The first 2 times were straight through. She did it with very little, no tent or big pack just a small bag. So much grit! So much determination. I am glad I read this about a regional heroine. She is world renowned & I feel proud that she's from our little corner of Ohio. #bookclub

Reading for #bookclub which is Monday. It's a regional read for our club, as the titular character is from one county over. I've always heard about Grandma Gatewood, and I'm enjoying learning about her life. #nonfiction #audiobook #readandeat #bookanddinner

#tarottakeover #octoberphotochallenge Grandma Gatewood walked the Appalachian Trail multiple times (the first time in her 60‘s). She was invigorated by the peaceful walking in solitude. I can‘t think of a more vital and energetic person. She gave herself this gift after a life of hardship. #SunCard 🌞🌞🌞

From #librariesofinstagram
Just had to share...📚💜

Reading about Grandma Gatewood made me want to get out and do something, do anything. She stayed active and did what she loved till the end. A great book about a fascinating person.

This one is a keeper! Grandma Gatewood reminds me of my paternal grandmother. She had a hard life and in comparison thought that walking the Appalachian Trail was “not so bad”. Her life as well as some social history was covered. She completed her first (yes, she did it more than once) through hike at age 67. I enjoyed this immensely and got a little teary a couple times. I give the book 5/5⭐️s and Emma Gatewood 10/10 ⭐️s.

Loved loved me some Granny Gatewood!! I mean this woman rocked it when she gained her independence from an abusive husband and proved over and over how badass she was! And in only a pair of Keds!! #grandmagatewood

Such a lovely story and an even lovelier woman!

Loved listening to this book. What an inspiration!

Way before there was Cheryl Strayed there was Grandma Gatewood who did this walk in her sixties. You rock grandma.

#TBRtemptation post! My library just received this book this week, but it's been out for some time. I'm surprised I haven't heard of this one before since I'm an Appalachian Trail enthusiast. Also because this is a NYT's best-seller & written by a Pulitzer Prize contender. Well, I'll be checking this one out soon regardless 😉👍🏻. Should be an excellent & intriguing read! It might make a good gift for outdoor types. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

"I get faster as I get older." I hope this is true for me and reading...so much to be done!!

This turned out to be a quick, charming read. Gatewood is an inspiration...a survivor and a walker. Favorite quote: "'What is it with old people and mountains?'...That's a fine question."