Smart bets: Grandma Gatewood’s Walk

Posted on by Lea McLellan

“I did it,” said Emma Gatewood on Sept. 25, 1955.  “I said I’d do it, and I’ve done it.” The 67-year-old mother of 11 and grandmother of 23 stood on top of Mount Katahdin, the 5,267-foot peak at the northern terminus of the more than 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail. Journalist Ben Montgomery’s Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail is the first and only biography dedicated to Gatewood, the grandma who walked the route three times — bringing national attention to the Appalachian Trail and spurring vital preservation efforts. Montgomery will discuss the book at Malaprop’s on Saturday, May 31, at 7 p.m. malaprops.com. Photo courtesy of the author

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Lea McLellan
Lea McLellan is a freelance writer who likes to write stories about music, art, food, wellness and interesting locals doing interesting things.
View all posts by Lea McLellan →

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.