When we sing,
"Over the river and through the woods,
to Grandmother's house we go..."
most of us probably conjure up visions of a sterotypical Grandma, all round edges and special recipes. Not that there's anything wrong with that...but today, let's consider a different kind of Grandma:
"Grandma" Gatewood.
Grandma G. raised 11 children in southern Ohio in the early 1900s. She also worked as a practical nurse and trained Peace Corp volunteers.
And when she read that no woman had ever hiked the whole Appalachian Trail in a single season, she set out to correct that.
She was 68.
She hiked the AT twice more before taking on the Oregon Trail in 1959, at age 72. At age 75, she was still building trails in Ohio, some of which would become part of the Buckeye Trail. Others she built are still used, although they lie outside the BT's loop.
Through the vision and hard work of Grandma and others, today we can hike the Buckeye Trail--all 1,280 miles of it--to experience the land, people, and wildlife of Ohio. Happily, one of the most frequently used portions of the BT, from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave in Hocking County, is dedicated to Grandma Gatewood. Over the river and through the woods, indeed; Grandma's legacy lives on.
"Most people are pantywaists."
Read more about Grandma and her unique personal and hiking style at http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/...
and also at http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200211/...
Buy the book that details the Buckeye Trail's inception, history, and its many interesting champions:
Follow the Blue Blazes, A Guide to Hiking Ohio's Buckeye Trail, by Robert J. Pond.
Are you a member of the BT?
If you've got true-blue hiking blood running through your veins, or are simply willing to get a little blue paint under your nails, I encourage you to walk your mouse over to http://www.buckeyetrail.org/ . Consider joining up with a bunch of great trailblazers, hikers, and even a few not-so-active types who just want to preserve some of Ohio's unpaved pathways.
Know an Ohio history nut?
Visit the Buckeye Trail Association's website to buy books, maps, or BTA garb.
Through-Hikers Set to Take Off
Buckeyes Brent and Amy Anslinger are hiking all 1,280 miles of the Buckeye Trail. Hurry and lace up your boots, and you can join up with them at various points along the way (scheduled hikes and events online at http://www.buckeyetrail.org/ ). Brent and Amy, both outdoor educators, plan to complete their tour in December 2003. Then, the couple will set out to visit elementary schools and community centers to share their stories and promote Ohio's unique culture and natural history. I say, catch 'em if you can, on the trail or off. I'm sure they'll have a wildly interesting perspective to share with us all.
"Over the river and through the woods,
to Grandmother's house we go..."
most of us probably conjure up visions of a sterotypical Grandma, all round edges and special recipes. Not that there's anything wrong with that...but today, let's consider a different kind of Grandma:
"Grandma" Gatewood.
Grandma G. raised 11 children in southern Ohio in the early 1900s. She also worked as a practical nurse and trained Peace Corp volunteers.
And when she read that no woman had ever hiked the whole Appalachian Trail in a single season, she set out to correct that.
She was 68.
She hiked the AT twice more before taking on the Oregon Trail in 1959, at age 72. At age 75, she was still building trails in Ohio, some of which would become part of the Buckeye Trail. Others she built are still used, although they lie outside the BT's loop.
Through the vision and hard work of Grandma and others, today we can hike the Buckeye Trail--all 1,280 miles of it--to experience the land, people, and wildlife of Ohio. Happily, one of the most frequently used portions of the BT, from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave in Hocking County, is dedicated to Grandma Gatewood. Over the river and through the woods, indeed; Grandma's legacy lives on.
"Most people are pantywaists."
Read more about Grandma and her unique personal and hiking style at http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/...
and also at http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200211/...
Buy the book that details the Buckeye Trail's inception, history, and its many interesting champions:
Follow the Blue Blazes, A Guide to Hiking Ohio's Buckeye Trail, by Robert J. Pond.
Are you a member of the BT?
If you've got true-blue hiking blood running through your veins, or are simply willing to get a little blue paint under your nails, I encourage you to walk your mouse over to http://www.buckeyetrail.org/ . Consider joining up with a bunch of great trailblazers, hikers, and even a few not-so-active types who just want to preserve some of Ohio's unpaved pathways.
Know an Ohio history nut?
Visit the Buckeye Trail Association's website to buy books, maps, or BTA garb.
Through-Hikers Set to Take Off
Buckeyes Brent and Amy Anslinger are hiking all 1,280 miles of the Buckeye Trail. Hurry and lace up your boots, and you can join up with them at various points along the way (scheduled hikes and events online at http://www.buckeyetrail.org/ ). Brent and Amy, both outdoor educators, plan to complete their tour in December 2003. Then, the couple will set out to visit elementary schools and community centers to share their stories and promote Ohio's unique culture and natural history. I say, catch 'em if you can, on the trail or off. I'm sure they'll have a wildly interesting perspective to share with us all.
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