GRANDMA GATEWOOD: OHIO'S LEGENDARY HIKER
The Whole Story!

We can't bring Emma's story to life without YOUR help! Please join us on our Trail with a tax deductible donation.

In 1955, when she was 67 years old (and had already raised 11 children), Emma Gatewood became the first woman to ever thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail solo! Before she died in 1973 she had hiked the AT several times, completed hikes in Oregon, Vermont and Pennsylvania. She was a charter member of the Buckeye Trail Association which has The Grandma Gatewood Trail named after her.

Emma is the subject of our newest project. In November, 2011 we premiered a storytelling program about this amazing woman and now we continue working with filmaker Peter Huston to complete the project by creating a PBS documentary about her. We are in the process of raising funds to do a video and a first-person character program about this remarkable Ohioan. Watch our documentary tailer produced by FilmAffects.

In August, 2013, we will be premiering a first-person character program about Emma as part of weekend festival dedicated to Grandma Gatewood at TrueNorth Cultural Arts. The weekend events will include a nature poetry workshop and reading with author Kelly Boyer Sagert who will be writing the first-person character program, special hikes, Buckeye Trail displays and a discussion group on Mental Health and Self-Esteem (and the effects of domestic abuse) led by Natalie McCarthy, MSW, LSW. Mark your calendars to join us for this special event!

Additional information about the project:

Donor List/Supporter Information

See Video Clips from interviews with Emma's Family and keep up with our progress on our blog.

"With An Old Woman's Grace" a song about Emma by Mike Petee.

See pictures about Emma and her life:

• a picture album from Lucy Seeds, Emma's daughter
• a picture album from Louise LaMott, Emma's daughter.
• a picture album from Gallipolis, Ohio where Emma lived.

Related Information (articles, interview and excerpts of the story)

Comments about our storytelling program.

Letters of Support for our documentary project.

Purchase our E-book about Emma by Bette Lou Higgins and Kelly Boyer Sagert. Emma's daughter Lucy Seeds told us, "Bette Lou and Kelly: You did an excellent job on Mama's Bio. I thoroughly enjoyed the read. I found no fault. Thank you. Lucy" (Read an excerpt)

Purchase our DVD produced by FilmAffects of the storytelling program about Emma along with a copy of our documentary trailer and the Kickstarter Video -- $11.99. Pay with PayPal using the button below or download an order form to pay with a check.

To find out where and when our Grandma Gatewood storytelling program is playing, be sure to check our calendar page regularly.

We will be posting more information about this exciting new project as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any stories or memories of your own about Emma Gatewood that you would like to share as we research her life or if you would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact us.

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