Grandma Gatewood
"Because I wanted to."
Grandma Gatewood, as she became known, was the first woman to hike the entire 2,050 miles of the Appalachian Trail by herself in 1955. She was 67 years old at the time, a mother of 11 and grandmother of 23. Gatewood hiked the trail carrying a homemade knapsack and wearing ordinary sneakers — she wore out six pairs of them in 146 days from May to September. She brought a blanket and a plastic shower curtain to protect her from the elements, but she didn’t bother with a sleeping bag, a tent, a compass or even a map, instead relying on the hospitality of strangers along the way and her own independent resourcefulness.
Trail Magic, The Grandma Gatewood Story Documentary
Emmy-nominated documentary, Trail Magic, The Grandma Gatewood Story is now available on DVD! Watch the inspiring story of this historic hiker which includes interviews with family, historians and hikers. Anne McEvoy stars as Emma Gatewood, first woman to solo thru-hike the 2,050 mile Appalachian Trail, in 1955 at the age of 67 -- but that was only the beginning of her walk into history!
Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Gravesite & Trail
The Grandma Gatewood Statue project is a fundraiser Developed by Paul Maxwell to raise enough funds to put a bronze sculpture of Grandma Gatewood at her gravesite in Ohio Valley Memory Gardens. Since the project’s inception, others on the team have the hope that they can cast a second sculpture and one would also reside on the Appalachian Trail.
Other Places To Find Grandma Gatewood
Appalachian Trail Museum
Located in Pennsylvania's Pine Grove Furnace State Park, very close to the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail, the A.T. Museum tells the story of the A.T.
Grandma Gatewood Performances
Actress Anne Van Curen transforms into Emma "Grandma" Gatewood to describe what it was like to be the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail in 1955. The dramatization is based off of the book "Gradma Gatewood's Walk", which was written from accounts of Gatewood's surviving family members, newspaper magazine articles and her own diaries and trail journals.
“I wanted to see what was on the other side of the hill.”
– Emma “Grandma” Gatewood
Updates On The Grandma Gatewood Statue Project
Press Release: Bringing Grandma Gatewood Back to Ohio And The Appalachian Trail
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2023 Important Media Dates Grandma Gatewood’s Birthday October 25th National Hiking Day November 17th Grandma Gatewood’s story, spirit and influence in the hiking community are incredible. Now, a team of volunteers and an artist are trying to bring her back to her home state of Ohio and the Appalachian trail in…
Read More
Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Studying Grandma Gatewood’s Clothes And A Sitting
Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon is collecting period clothing and absorbing everything she can about Grandma Gatewood’s clothes and the Appalachian Trail for the Statue Project. Many Women from her Houston Women’s Hiking Group have been helping her to work through a pose, collect period gear, and finally put a pose together for a client to approve through a…
Read More
Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Where Will Grandma Gatewood Be On The AT?
When sculptor Bridgette Mongeon and Paul Maxwell from the Ohio Valley Memorial Gardens first got together about the project of a sculpture of Grandma Gatewood, the idea was to create one sculpture that would sit on Grandma Gatewood’s Grave. Bridgette also longed to bring Grandma Gatewood back to the Appalachian Trail. Two sculptures are easy.…
Read More
Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Searching For Clothes For Grandma Gatewood Statue
It may appear quiet in the studio, but it does not mean we are not busy with the Grandma Gatewood Statue Project. Trying to find vintage clothes, i.e., pants, shirt, and shoes, in the model’s size, has been a big undertaking, and slowing our progress to a crawl. I’ll also be looking at glasses. Her…
Read More
Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Trail Days
May 19, 2023- May 21, 2023, was Appalachian Trail Days In Damascus, VA. You may have seen Paul Maxwell there talking about the Grandma Gatewood Statue project if you went. You can’t miss him with the
Read More
Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Brainstorming
Friday night was Grandma Gatewood night at my studio. I invited some members of The Houston Women’s Hiking group. Everyone has been so encouraging on the group. They have been posting their stories about the AT and sharing their thoughts on Grandma Gatewood, her pose, clothes, etc. Wanting to keep them in the loop, I…
Read MoreGrandma Gatewood Statue Project | How Do You Start a Sculpture Of A Person You Have Never Met?
From Bridgette Mongeon’s StudioThe most important thing is getting to know my subject through those who knew and loved her. I’m having regular conversations with Grandma Gatewood’s granddaughter and, of course, immersing myself in everything Grandma Gatewood. I would like to video conference with other women who have studied her. Women like Dixie – Wanderlust,…
Read More
Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Announcing The Sculptor — Bridgette Mongeon
Paul Maxwell announces the sculptor of the Grandma Gatewood tribute statue—Bridgette Mongeon. For several reasons, we chose Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon as the official sculptor of the Grandma Gatewood Sculpture. First, her work is amazing. She is known for sculpting such celebrities as B.B. King, Willie Nelson, and Bill Monroe. Her monumental sculpture of Alice in…
Read MoreThe Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Tribute Sculpture is Coming!
The Ohio Valley Memory Gardens in Gallipolis, Ohio, is the cemetery where Grandma Gatewood rests. He reports that with the movie Trail Magic: The Grandma Gatewood Story airing on PBS and the book Grandma Gatewood’s Walk written by Ben Montgomery, Grandma Gatewood is getting her share of visitors. People tell the story of courage, fortitude,…
Read More