Grandma Gatewood: The Unstoppable Trailblazer | E181

This week's story is about the incredible Emma "Grandma" Gatewood, who became the first woman to solo hike the entire 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail in 1955. At 67 years old, this Ohio grandmother completed the journey wearing canvas sneakers and carrying only a homemade denim bag, blanket, and shower curtain - proving that extraordinary achievements don't require extraordinary gear. After surviving decades of domestic violence, Gatewood found freedom on the trail and went on to hike it three times total, inspiring countless hikers and helping save the Appalachian Trail through the national attention her story generated.