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
Recent Media on the Grandma Gatewood Statue Project.
Many thanks to those who are helping us promote the Grandma Gatewood Project. If you see press or create a blog post, please let us know. We want to recognize you and the article. NBC 3 We The People/ Hiking Hero: Grandma Gatewood May 6, 2026 North Georgia News Mountain Crossing 2026 Appalachian Trail Kick-…
Grandma Gatewood Returns to the Appalachian Trail: Life-Size Statues to Honor Trailblazing Hiker and Inspire Future Generations
Grandma Gatewood became a legend in 1955 at the age of 67. (PRESS RELEASE_ National- February 24, 2026) Decades after her legendary trek, the indomitable spirit of Emma “Grandma” Gatewood is set to inspire hikers once again as two life-size bronze statues are commissioned to celebrate her extraordinary legacy. Gatewood, the first woman to solo…
Support the Statue Project with Mountain Crossing
So pleased to be joining forces with Mountain Crossing and to have them use the fundraiser to raise funds for the statue project. Thanks to North Georgia News for the press. We are still raising funds. Please check out the go fund me, no donation is too small. Also please share, and if you know of…
What is Happening With The Statue Project?
It may seem like not much is happening with the Grandma Gatewood project, but we want to assure you that we are still actively moving forward. In a fundraising committee, responsibilities often rest on just a few individuals, and when they are pulled in various directions, it can seem quiet on the surface. However, behind…
Grandma Gatewood Statue Project on PBS Radio Ohio
Thank you PBS Radio Ohio for creating such a wonderful segment about Grandma Gatewood and the statue project. Great Interview with Paul Maxwell, from Ohio Valley Memory Gardens in Gallipolis, Ohio, who started this project Give a listen. Don’t forget to donate, and share about this project.
A Hiking Stick, History, and Love of Family
From The Sculptor’s Studio Many like to see my posts because it feels like they are watching over the shoulders of the artists. Welcome to my studio. Connections-There is no doubt that I feel connected to Grandma Gatewood. Our connection comes from our love of the woods and hiking, and I hope from our desire…
Press Release: Bringing Grandma Gatewood Back to Ohio And The Appalachian Trail
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2024 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 two life-size bronzes. Grandma Gatewood is Coming Home to Ohio Fifty years after…
Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Podcast Interviews With Appalachia Meets World
Podcast hosts on Appalachia Meets World, create two podcasts on Grandma Gatewood. One about her story, the other about the statues. Will and Neil from Appalachia Meets World are two brothers born and raised in the coal fields of central Appalachia. A podcast about place and perspective, they talk about life in Appalachia and venture…
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…
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.…