Emma “Grandma” Gatewood is best known as the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, but her legacy goes far beyond hiking. Her 1955 journey offers powerful lessons about courage, independence, and perseverance that still inspire women in the outdoors today. As the Girl Camper community continues to grow, Grandma Gatewood’s story reminds us that adventure has no age limit and no single right way to get outside.
I first read Grandma Gatewood’s Walk a year or two after it was published. My son had thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2009, and until then I had never even heard of the trail, despite living on the East Coast and loving the outdoors. Recently, I interviewed author Ben Montgomery for the Girl Camper Podcast and learned even more about Grandma Gatewood’s life. Hearing her story again made me reflect on how her 2,166-mile hike not only earned her the title of the first woman solo thru-hiker, but also paved the way for generations of women seeking adventure outdoors.
Lesson 1: You Are Never Too Old to Start Camping
One of the most important Grandma Gatewood lessons is simple: you are never too old to begin. At Girl Camper we often hear from women asking, “Am I too old to go camping? To tow a trailer? To pitch a tent?” Our answer is always no.
If the desire is in your heart, that alone shows you still crave a full and active life. There is no wrong way to camp like a girl. You might prefer a small camper instead of a giant fifth wheel, or a cozy cabin instead of a tent. You can car camp, bunk with a friend, or rent gear while you learn. What matters most is that you go.
Grandma Gatewood began her serious hiking adventures at age 67. Her body may have felt every mile, but her spirit stayed young because she kept moving and exploring. She didn’t stop after one success. She hiked the Appalachian Trail three times and completed many other trails. Her story proves that age is a number, not a limit.
Lesson 2: Don’t Let Others Define Your Adventure
Grandma Gatewood grew up on an Ohio farm with 14 siblings and married at 18. Her marriage was difficult and frightening, yet in the 1940s she made the bold decision to divorce her husband, despite the social stigma of the time. She chose peace and safety over public opinion.
This is one of the most powerful Grandma Gatewood lessons for modern women in the outdoors. Many Girl Camper members tell me they hesitate to start camping because of fears planted by others. They hear stories about campground dangers or worst-case scenarios from people who rarely spend time outside.
The truth is that you have to decide what is right for you. Sit quietly with your own thoughts and identify your real concerns. Then work step by step to address them. Don’t carry someone else’s fear. You don’t want to reach old age wishing you had tried. Your adventure belongs to you.
Lesson 3: Sometimes It’s Okay to Keep Your Dreams Quiet
When my son prepared to hike the Appalachian Trail, he talked about it constantly. Friends joked that he would be home in two weeks. We even threw him a send-off party. While he ultimately finished the six-month journey, I often wondered how those comments affected him.
Grandma Gatewood handled things differently. She simply left. She told almost no one about her plan because she didn’t want opinions, debates, or discouragement. After an unsuccessful first attempt in 1954, she quietly returned home and tried again the next year, this time starting from Georgia. She was weeks into her hike before her family learned what she was doing.
One of the quieter Grandma Gatewood lessons is that not every dream needs an audience. If becoming a Girl Camper feels confusing to friends or family, you are not required to convince them. Share your plans with people who support you. Protect your excitement. Whether you rent a cabin, borrow a tent, or sleep in your minivan, your adventure is valid. You answer to yourself.
Lesson 4: Keep Camping Simple
It’s easy to overthink outdoor adventures. I once had a friend show me a detailed spreadsheet comparing motorhomes she planned to buy after retirement. She loved research and analysis. I suggested she rent a few models first. After real-world experience, she chose something completely different from her spreadsheet.
Grandma Gatewood kept things remarkably simple. She hiked in work pants and a T-shirt, wearing canvas Keds that she modified for comfort. She carried a homemade canvas sack with a spare dress and used a plastic shower curtain as rain protection. At night, she filled her bag with leaves or grass to make a pillow.
Early family camping trips in the 1970s were just as simple: a canvas tent, a cooler, a lantern, and a homemade camp kitchen. The core Grandma Gatewood lessons here are about separating wants from needs. Fancy gear can be fun, but it is not required. What matters most is mindset, community, and experience. Add supportive friends, a safe place to sleep, and a way to cook a meal, and you are ready to go.
Lesson 5: Persevere When Things Go Wrong
Every outdoor enthusiast eventually faces setbacks. A Girl Camper friend from Georgia once had a disastrous first trip towing a new trailer through heavy traffic and rain. A rock shattered her RV window. Her campsite was uneven. Electrical problems piled up, and the weather never improved. She went home in tears, feeling defeated.
But the following week she booked another campsite and tried again. Today she is a confident RVer with countless miles, friendships, and memories behind her. That determination mirrors Grandma Gatewood’s spirit. When doors closed, she searched for another way in. She refused to accept defeat.
Among all the Grandma Gatewood lessons, perseverance may be the most important. Camping and outdoor adventures will not always go smoothly. Equipment fails. Weather changes. Plans fall apart. Each challenge is an invitation to learn and continue. Girl Camping can look however you want it to look, at whatever budget and comfort level suits you. The key is to keep going.
Carrying Grandma Gatewood’s Legacy Forward
Grandma Gatewood’s lessons are timeless. Her Appalachian Trail hike continues to inspire women in the outdoors to step beyond fear and into possibility. Whether you are pitching your first tent, towing your first trailer, or simply dreaming about getting outside, her story proves that courage matters more than perfect timing or perfect gear.
The Girl Camper community exists to support women who want to explore, connect, and grow through outdoor adventure. If Grandma Gatewood could step onto the Appalachian Trail at 67 and change hiking history, we can take the next step toward our own journeys.
Be sure to catch this week’s podcast where I sit down with the author of Grandma Gatewood’s Walk and her great nephew, Ben Montgomery.
