grandma gatewood and the appalachian trail: could you do it?
I just finished reading about Grandma Gatewood, who, at 67, hiked the entire Appalachian Trail all by herself. Can you imagine? She wore Keds sneakers, carried a homemade bag, and didn’t even have a tent—just a shower curtain for rain. I keep thinking about how I get winded just walking up the stairs, and here she was, trekking over 2,000 miles through the mountains!
It makes me wonder: have any of you tried hiking part of the Appalachian Trail, or even just a long walk in the woods? What’s the longest hike you’ve ever done, and did you run into any surprises along the way? I’m a little skeptical—could we really pull off something like this today, or is it just a story from a tougher time? I feel like my knees would give out before I even made it to the first shelter.
Honestly, I’m torn between feeling inspired and thinking she must have been a little bit crazy (in the best way). Would you ever try something like this, or do you think it’s just too much? Let’s hear your hiking stories—especially the mishaps!
#GrandmaGatewood #AppalachianTrail #HikingStories #ActiveAging #OutdoorAdventures #Travel
