6 ms·

Grandma Gatewood

121 points by samclemens 4y ago

denvaar 4y ago
Now I have someone to look up to as I strive for my goal of walking at least three miles every single day this year.
- Prcmaker 4y ago
  You can do it. I aimed to up my walking last year, stuck with it and started to really enjoy it. It went from a challenge, to doable, shifted my goals higher and hit some goals I wouldn't have imagined at the start of the year. Best of luck.
  - TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
    How did you track it?
    - Prcmaker 4y ago
      To start, I just used google maps to find walks around my neighbourhood long enough. I then started going by my watch and caring less about distance. I started hiking again after a few months, after a long hiatus. Small walks to start, an hour or so on a Saturday. I bought a cheap gps watch on run-out clearance mid year, to help me track miles as a friend and I set a large goal. Pen and paper could have given the same metrics though.
KRAKRISMOTT 4y ago
Any of her descendants here on HN? She had 11 and it's been more than half a century now, so there should be at least one or two HN readers.
- caitline222 4y ago
  Hi! I’m her great-great granddaughter. I actually met the thru-hiker mentioned in the comment above, Dixie, in October 21 and we still keep in touch! I’m a hiker myself and plan on hiking the AT some day.
  - auveair 4y ago
    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 4y ago
      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 4y ago
        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.
  - saagarjha 4y ago
    This site has a lot of flaws but sometimes it’s really the best :)
qbasic_forever 4y ago
The through-hiker YouTuber Dixie/Homemade Wanderlust did an awesome hike using the same gear as Grandma Gatewood and it's a great little mini documentary on her hiking: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxVRCCxWco https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxVRCCxWco It's an awesome video and really puts in perspective that hiking is all about mindset not going to REI and maxing out your credit card on fancy gear.

Grandma Gatewood

121 points by samclemens 4y ago

denvaar 4y ago

Now I have someone to look up to as I strive for my goal of walking at least three miles every single day this year.

Prcmaker 4y ago
You can do it. I aimed to up my walking last year, stuck with it and started to really enjoy it. It went from a challenge, to doable, shifted my goals higher and hit some goals I wouldn't have imagined at the start of the year. Best of luck.
- TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
  How did you track it?
  - Prcmaker 4y ago
    To start, I just used google maps to find walks around my neighbourhood long enough. I then started going by my watch and caring less about distance. I started hiking again after a few months, after a long hiatus. Small walks to start, an hour or so on a Saturday. I bought a cheap gps watch on run-out clearance mid year, to help me track miles as a friend and I set a large goal. Pen and paper could have given the same metrics though.

KRAKRISMOTT 4y ago

Any of her descendants here on HN? She had 11 and it's been more than half a century now, so there should be at least one or two HN readers.

caitline222 4y ago
Hi! I’m her great-great granddaughter. I actually met the thru-hiker mentioned in the comment above, Dixie, in October 21 and we still keep in touch! I’m a hiker myself and plan on hiking the AT some day.
- auveair 4y ago
  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 4y ago
    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 4y ago
      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.
- saagarjha 4y ago
  This site has a lot of flaws but sometimes it’s really the best :)

qbasic_forever 4y ago

The through-hiker YouTuber Dixie/Homemade Wanderlust did an awesome hike using the same gear as Grandma Gatewood and it's a great little mini documentary on her hiking: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxVRCCxWco https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxVRCCxWco It's an awesome video and really puts in perspective that hiking is all about mindset not going to REI and maxing out your credit card on fancy gear.