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  • Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail
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Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Ben Montgomery (Author), Patrick Lawlor (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)
4.6 out of 5 stars 9,642 ratings

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Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than $200. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, farm-reared, 67-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. And in September 1955, atop Maine's Mount Katahdin, she sang the first verse of "America, the Beautiful" and proclaimed, "I said I'll do it, and I've done it." Grandma Gatewood, as the reporters called her, became 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. 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.

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  1. Listening Length
    7 hours and 54 minutes
  2. Author
    Ben Montgomery
  3. Narrator
    Patrick Lawlor
  4. Audible release date
    Dec 16 2014
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Tantor Audio
  7. ASIN
    B0722XC612
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
Next slide of product details

Product details

Listening Length 7 hours and 54 minutes
Author Ben Montgomery
Narrator Patrick Lawlor
Audible.ca Release Date December 16 2014
Publisher Tantor Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0722XC612
鶹 Rank

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4.6 out of 5 stars
9,642 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the content of the book lovely, uplifting, and well-written. They say it's entertaining and an adventure.

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ContentEntertaining
23 customers mention "Content"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book lovely, uplifting, and well-written. They say it's an amazing story of one woman's journey.

"A well written story of an exceptional woman...." Read more

"Good read" Read more

"Amazing story & inspiring!" Read more

"What an amazing woman! To even think of starting an adventure like that with so little preparation is beyond most of us...." Read more

5 customers mention "Entertaining"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining. They say it's an engaging true story and enjoying the author's adventurous spirit.

"...It is one of those amazing adventure stories, in this case with an older woman, that inspires because her problems were signigicant but her drive /..." Read more

"reading on my kindle and enjoying her adventurous spirit." Read more

"...Mum said the book was uplifting, and very well written. An engaging true story. She has recommended it to several friends." Read more

"this book is so fun!" Read more

Top reviews from Canada

  • grannymis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Th value of determination
    Reviewed in Canada on April 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What an amazing woman! To even think of starting an adventure like that with so little preparation is beyond most of us. This book certainly highlights how people should never be discounted because of their age. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her story.
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  • Sherri Davis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring Read, especially for “Mature” Walkers and Hikers
    Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    If you are a walker or a hiker, and particularly if you are a woman of a certain age, you will love this book. It is the story of Ohio woman Emma Gatewood hiking the 2000 plus mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in 1955 at the age of 67. She became the first woman ever to do so. It is well researched and well written. She was stunningly ill prepared (no tent, proper knapsack or even a sleeping bag) and inexperienced but fired by grit, guts and incredible inner strength. Quite a story. And she did it twice more after her first successful sojourn.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Cynthia Bookish
    4.0 out of 5 stars The First Woman To Walk The Complete Appalachian Trail
    Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Last month I read the biographical memoirs of a woman who crossed the U.S. in the 1950s by horse, with her small dog. This month I read of another woman, also in the 1950s, who became the first woman to walk the full 2,050 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

    The book I just finished, "Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail" was an inspiring portrait of an ordinary woman who, partly in response to an abusive husband's treatment of her, "escaped" to walk the Appalachian Trail in the 1930s, but was unable to do it then, but came back in the 1950s and completed the trail a couple of times. The author, Ben Montgomery, was aware of Mrs. Gatewood's story through his mother. He and his wife actually did the end portion of the trail during the writing of the book.

    It is one of those amazing adventure stories, in this case with an older woman, that inspires because her problems were signigicant but her drive / desire was paramount in her completion of the walks. I read it aloud to my husband and we were both amazed by the story of her grit and stamina. I recommend this book to anyone who is facing a relationship dilemma or who is thinking of doing something like a trail walk but feels uncertain about their ability to complete it.
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  • Brenda Powell
    5.0 out of 5 stars CJ Box Books
    Reviewed in Canada on March 1, 2025
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    These are great books
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  • Judith holt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing story
    Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2024
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    Quick arrival, amazing story of one woman’s journey. Would read again.
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  • 鶹 Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great adventure
    Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    reading on my kindle and enjoying her adventurous spirit.
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  • Tanya Johnston
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in Canada on March 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I am almost finished reading this book and have enjoyed it, although there were some parts that due to the writing style was not as clear.
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  • Carolin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Astonished with her initiative
    Reviewed in Canada on November 27, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Was interested in topic. Always interested in reading about woman that have reached beyond what people think they can do. Wonderful book. Enjoyed it!
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • JK
    5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing story of an even more amazing woman.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Mrs, Gatewood is not only a story of a woman who made an amazing journey but it's also a story of resilience. It's the story of a woman who raised a family under circumstance no one should have to endure and who finally stood up for herself and lived the life she wanted until the very end. She overcame physical and mental hardships to be the person she was meant to be, a trailblazer ... in more ways than one. A very engaging read.
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  • Cliente 鶹
    3.0 out of 5 stars Old lady goes for a walk
    Reviewed in Spain on May 28, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I have a major cavil with this book entertaining though it was: I would really have liked to heard the story more from the protagonist and not in the novelized version.
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  • Teresa Termini
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very inspiring
    Reviewed in Italy on November 18, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Storia che stimola e fa riflettere, lettura consigliata
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  • Angela C Young
    5.0 out of 5 stars Feisty, inspirational, adventurous & brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    One of the best reads in a while. Could not put the book down. Truly inspirational and such an amazing lady. Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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  • Lolly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Only just started reading , but so far I am really enjoying it. I have been waiting a while to get this book, and it's just what I expected, a great story!
    Report