Six Degrees of Grandma Gatewood

No Ordinary Pair Of Shoes

I first learned of the legendary Grandma Gatewood several years ago when I walked into Mount Roger’s Outfitters in Damascus, Va. In the corner of the cluttered store sat a nondescript box that contained what looked like the shoes of some ancient Egyptian peasant girl, in fact, they were a pair of Grandma Gatewood’s trail shoes. I remember not much reacting to them, I didn’t know her story, but I do remember thinking, “I must be close to the AT.” Actually, I stepped across it to go into this store. Captain Obvious I was not.

The Story Of A Legend

One of the very first comments to the announcement that my dad and I were attempting to thru hike was, “have you read Grandma Gatewood’s book?” I had not, I shamefully admitted, but it was definitely time.

I began flipping the pages of Ben Montgomery’s book, Grandma Gatewood’s Walk, with apprehension. “Why would I want to read a book about a lady hiking the trail 70 years ago?” After I completed it, I could answer that question, “because I am an idiot, and she may be the coolest person to ever live in southern Ohio.”

The original Double G was a badass. She wandered the trails fearlessly and with a passion for the outdoors that I had never heard of before. She was almost always wet, cold, bruised, blistered, and broken to the point that most people would give up and go home. Not the Double G. She would get up, cut a new hole in the side of her shoe, so her bunion could breathe, and bebop her old ass down the trail day after day. She is legendary.

Canter’s Cave, Delta’s Playground

Shortly after her 2nd thru hike completion, Double G was invited and accepted an invitation to speak at Canter’s Cave 4-H camp in Jackson, Ohio. Canter’s Cave holds a dear place in my heart. In the early 90s, shortly after turning the ripe old age of 16,  I left my home, in neighboring Lawrence County Ohio, for the summer and took a job as a lifeguard at the camp. I use the term job loosely. I watched over a pool a few hours a day and spent the rest of the day chasing girls and learning just how much Southern Comfort a 16 year old could drink. Not much, that is the answer. A tale for another day. Double G would not approve.

One of my favorite stories about Canter’s  Cave is when a local church group came to visit. They were a little radical in their teachings and the camp director took notice. Before our first shift of watching the little radicals swim, he told us that if any of the kids are drowning be sure to ask them if they wanted God to save them or you. I laughed, he didn’t. We went in after a few kids that week. We didn’t ask the question.

Following The Footsteps Of Greatness

So here I stand today, a few weeks before starting my ill-advised attempt to thru hike the AT, from the trailhead of Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls, in Hocking Hills State Park. This was Grandma’s favorite hike and I’m excited to follow her footsteps for the first time before the AT.

According to AllTrails app Grandma’s Trail is a seemingly easy 6-mile hike. Short decline, virtually flat for 5 miles, followed by a short incline. Either I misidentified the trail on the app or AllTrails needs to revisit this hike from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls, Ash Cave, and back along Overlook Trail. What I found was short, but steep inclines, interesting rock scrambles, caves, tunnels, and a seemingly endless number of roots. I busted my ass not 50 feet from the trailhead with a full pack, as a girl in Golden Goose sneakers sauntered along without a care in the world.  It was a blast.

I enjoyed reading about Grandma and being allowed to walk in her shadow today. Facing this hike in a matter of weeks, I can only hope that I have balls half as big as the badass Grandma Gatewood.

Footnote

After the hike today I relaxed in a small hot tub, up in a little treehouse, close to the trail. Grandma’s relaxing evenings usually consisted of piling up some leaves under a picnic table in the woods. We are not built the same.  I’m going to die.