The Appalachian Trail (AT) is a 2,197 mile hiking trail that spans Georgia to Maine; 90 miles of the trail are in Massachusetts. It takes an average hiker roughly six months to traverse the entire trail. Many who attempt to hike the entire trail do not make it due to injury, fatigue, lack of will, or a myriad of other obstacles. Since the inception of the AT in the 1930’s, more than 20,000 people have reported finishing the trail.
Thru-hikers (hikers who intend to hike and/or successfully hike the entire trail) are helped along by Trail Angels. Trail Angels unofficially and voluntarily provide food, shelter, water, rides and many other lifelines thru-hikers are desperate for. This author can attest to the true angelic virtues of Trail Angels: during my AT hike in 2020, it is unlikely I would have made it to Mount Katahdin (the northern terminus of the trail) without Trail Angels’ seemingly random acts of kindness.
This blog post will highlight a handful of Appalachian Trail legends of the female persuasion.
Note: Thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail (and other major trails) use pseudonyms called “trail names.” Known hiker trail names will first be put in quotations and later used as a default.
Tara Dower, ‘Candy Mama’
In 2024, Candy Mama set the record for finishing the Appalachian Trail in the Fastest Known Time (FKT): 40 days, 18 hours, and 5 minutes. She reportedly took just three showers during this time. Sometimes hiking for 17 hours a day, she averaged hiking 55 miles per day. Candy Mama’s FKT hike follows her 2017 attempt that ended early due to a panic attack, and her successful thru-hike in 2019. Her record-breaking hike beat the previous FKT holder, Karel Sabbe, by about 13 hours. Candy Mama is also an ultra-marathon runner and FKT record setter for the Mountain-to-Sea trail. You can follow her via YouTube @TaraTreks, opens a new window or Instagram @tara.dower, opens a new window.
Beth Ritter-Guth, ‘Squeak’
Squeak is a well-known Trail Angel who serves hikers primarily along the Lehigh Gap section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. In fact, Squeak moved her family of four to Palmerton, Pennsylvania specifically to live close to trail so she could actively participate with the trail community. Her ultimate goal is to get Palmerton officially recognized as a Trail-Town by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, opens a new window. In addition to regularly hosting hikers in her backyard, she also opens up her home for hikers to take showers and do laundry for free. Squeak is also responsible for starting and leading the Palmertown Outdoors Club and PA Restart, two Meetup groups for people to engage with the outdoors. The latter group is still functioning and has nearly 2,500 members. Squeak is an outspoken advocate of the trail and is known for her kindness, trail wisdom, and humor. You can follow her on YouTube @BethRitterGuth, opens a new window.
Emma Rowena Gatewood, ‘Grandma Gatewood’
Grandma Gatewood is arguably the most legendary person from the Appalachian Trail. This woman hiked the entire AT thrice. Even more, she was age 67 the first time she hiked the trail. She did it again in 1957, and again in 1964 at age 76. She hiked all 6,000+ miles wearing Keds and instead of a backpack she simply threw a sack over one shoulder to carry her things. She was an ultra-light hiker decades before the term was coined and embraced. Grandma Gatewood’s journeys are well-documented. Newspapers and magazines followed her adventures during her time, making her a minor celebrity. Today, books continue to be published about her. This small paragraph does not include her heroic actions in her personal life, which deserve applause as well. See recommendations below for further reading about this heroine.
Shilletha Curtis, ‘Dragonsky’
Similar to this author, Dragonsky found herself on the Appalachian Trail due to unemployment (and anxiety) from the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike this author, Dragonsky faced greater fears of living exposed in the great outdoors because she is a black, queer woman. “I would not do the AT again. It’s not the trail where I feel safest.” Dragonsky said in an Outside article. And yet she did it. Not only that, but she published a book about her AT hike entitled Pack Light. Dragonsky stands out for her outstanding bravery while on the trail and for managing to write a book about it simultaneously. Another feat most of us do not achieve. You can follow her on Instagram @ i_am_dragonsky, opens a new window.
Genevieve Hutchinson
Genevieve Hutchinson's home in western Massachusetts was a half mile from the Appalachian Trail. She hosted innumerable hikers over the span of 53 years, starting in 1921. Long before the term "Trail Angel" was a term, Hutchinson defined it. She was described by one hiker and author as "one of the state's most gracious citizens." Along with her famous hospitality, she was also a poet and artist. Many of her works are archived by various libraries. You can see her watercolors on Digital Commonwealth, opens a new window, along with pictures of her and her home which was a sought-after safe haven for tired-to-the-bone hikers.
As mentioned, this is a small handful of Appalachian Trail lady legends. See this list for more AT items recommended by this BPL librarian and former AT hiker, opens a new window. For more AT lore and info, check out Appalachian Trail Histories, opens a new window, Appalachian Trail Museum, opens a new window, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, opens a new window.
A collection of inspiring titles from a handful of Appalachian Trail legends. Thinking about going on an adventure? Check out any of these books for motivation. If they can do it, you can too!
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