This book was recommended by a friend, but I didn't think it was going to be of interest to me. Then I saw it on GoodReads list for best books of 2014 and I decided I should give it a chance. It did start a bit slow, but then I got into it.
Terribly abused by her husband for decades, when Emma Gatewood was 67 she decided to do something for herself. Take a walk. She didn't let her children know where she was going until much later, she started in Georgia and hiked the entire Appalachian Trail through to the end in Maine. She then hiked it again in its entirety. She traveled light and depended on others for much of her food and shelter along the way She didn't use any fancy gear and didn't spend much money in the 5 months it took her to complete. Emma became the first woman to hike the entire trail. As she gained national attention she was able to call attention to much needed improvements for the AT. Trails were not clearly marked, shelters were is disrepair and/or filthy.
She hiked the trail a 3rd time in portions and later walked the 2,000 mile Oregon Trail. Today there is a 6 mile trail in her home state of Ohio named after her and people gather once a year to hike together in her memory.
When I was reading this book, I could picture the beautiful scenery and wished that I was also on the AT experiencing the nature and solitude. Several years ago I read Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods and I also daydreamed of hiking the trail. We've hiked a small portion of the AT in North Carolina a few years ago when on vacation. As a family we have always enjoyed day hikes when we lived up in CT. Lately my older children have expressed an interest in hiking a longer portion of the trail so we are planning to do that when our grandbaby is old enough to go with us.
I definitely recommend picking up this book and getting to know this strong woman who isn't as well known anymore. I'm glad I got to know her.
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