Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail
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Written and illustrated by Jennifer Thermes

Recommended age: 7+
Non Fiction
I saw this book and had to read it! I come from a long line of determined and resilient grandmothers. They each had their own feisty personalities and zest for life, and that, along with my love for hiking had me grabbing this book off the shelf!
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"I did it. I said I'd do it and I've done it. - Emma Rowena 'Grandma' Gatewood
Well, the first thing I did after reading it was to excitedly ask my daughter if she wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail with me! Her response was, "Could we do just a part of it?" Well, fair enough! Add it to the bucket list!
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Emma 'Grandma' Gatewood was sixty-seven when she set out in a pair of sneakers and hiked the Appalachian Trail. Being a novice hiker, even with my great hiking boots, trail-worthy clothes and gear, I can't imagine doing that 2,160-mile trail by myself!
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This fascinating true story comes to life and is beautifully enhanced with illustrated maps, timelines and additional notes about Emma, the trail and additional illustrations at the end. A wonderful non-fiction picture book that begs the reader to put on some good walking shoes and get outside!
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This map is one of the delightfully illustrated extras in Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Thermes!
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Fun Stuff!
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1. Take a Hike!
It doesn't have to be far away or a huge time commitment. Even a walk in a city park or down a country road will do! Want to get more adventurous but not sure how to proceed? Go to https://www.alltrails.com/ and search to find the perfect hike!
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2. Interview your Grandmother or another family member!
....or a neighbor that has stories to tell! (...and we all have stories to tell!)
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3. Make a Map of your Neighborhood!
Include houses, parks, fire hydrants, special areas like a park or restaurant or really tall tree.
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4. Go Geocaching!
This modern day treasure hunt is a fun way to get into hiking! You can either use a GPS unit or use a navigation app on your phone. Don't forget your insect repellent!
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5. Do a Scavenger Hunt Photo Hike!
Rather than gather, bring along a list of things you would find in nature and photograph them. Of course take some selfies and print them out for an album or photo collage. Great times and great memories!
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Grandmothers!

This is my great grandmother Elizabeth - she was from about the same time period as Grandma Gatewood. She was feisty!

This is my grandmother, Catherine , who was fantastic at crossword puzzles! She was sharp as a tack with a perfect memory! She was also a great cook and made the very best deli style sandwiches!

This is not the best quality photo, but it's the one I had of my grandmother, Madeline (Dad's side) and grandfather, Charlie. She was a riot! Always loved a party and won a dance contest when she was in her 60's!

....And to conclude the gallery of grandmothers, we have my parents and daughter!
April

My grandmother, Catherine with her husband, Gasper- my grandfather. Love this picture!

So here's my grandmother Catherine and my mom, Anita! Two of the smartest women I've ever known!
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Grandma Tell Me Your Story by Susan Branch is a great book for that interview idea I mentioned above! Wonderful prompts for fun events and memories to write down and treasure!