In 1954, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood became the first woman to solo thru-hike the entire 2,050 miles of the Appalachian Trail. She did this at the age of 67 armed with only a bare minimum of supplies and a desire to achieve a goal.

She was not only the first woman to solo hike the trail, she was the first person — man or woman — to walk it twice and then a third time – 1957 and 1964.

To highlight the life of Grandma Gatewood, the Waterford Public Library will show the docudrama film “Trail Magic: The Grandma Gatewood Story” on Monday, March 20, at 6 p.m., (registration is suggested) followed a week later by a virtual talk with Ben Montgomery, author of “Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail,” on Tuesday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. (registration is required to join this Zoom event).

“Trail Magic: The Grandma Gatewood Story,” is a documentary that exploresGatewood’s origins in Gallia County, Ohio, her lifetime of hardships, including a 30-year marriage to an abusive husband, and her eventual stardom.

Ben Montgomery, a Pulitzer-prize nominated journalist, will discuss his in-depth research into Gatewood’s life and legacy.

“I’m not so sure that she was walking towards something so much as she was walking away from what had been a terrible life,” said Montgomery. Ben Montgomery may be contacted via email at ben.montgomery@axios.com.

Both events are free and open to the public. To register, visit www.waterfordpubliclibrary.org.

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