Emma Gatewood's life was far from easy. In rural Ohio, she managed a
household of 11 kids alongside a less-than-supportive husband. One day,
at age 67, she decided to go for a nice long walk . . . and ended up
completing the Appalachian Trail.
With just the clothes on her back and a pair of thin canvas sneakers on
her feet, Grandma Gatewood hiked up ridges and down ravines. She braved
angry storms and witnessed breathtaking sunrises. When things got
particularly tough, she relied on the kindness of strangers or sheer
luck to get her through the night. When the newspapers got wind of her
amazing adventure, the whole country cheered her on to the end of her
trek, which came just a few months after she set out. A story of true
grit and girl power at any age, Grandma Gatewood proves that no peak
is insurmountable.