[auveair]

That's awesome!

The Wikipedia article was a bit light on her personality and life outside of hiking, how was she like? It sounded like she had a strong personality and didn't take no for an answer, but I'm also curious about the poetry she wrote and what was her general outlook in life. She seemed like she was very smart.

[caitline222]

She was incredibly intelligent and had a very strong, decisive personality. Her school only went up to eight grade, but she repeated that grade until she turned 18. She was constantly reading anything she could get her hands on (which is how she found out about the AT in National Geographic), and she was also writing on anything resembling paper. My cousin has preserved her poems, and some are written on the strangest materials like envelopes, receipts, and even a PanAm Calendar.

Her poetry focused mostly on nature and daily life. Quite a few of my cousins are certified naturalists in their respective states.

[wyclif]

Grandma Gatewood is a legend on the A.T. She is a great example for female long-distance hikers who wonder if the A.T. is safe. At the time she completed her thru-hike, the A.T. was a lot wilder and more dangerous than it is now. And her backstory makes the achievement all the more impressive and folkloric.