There’s a moment before your first backpacking trip where everything feels… slightly chaotic. You’re staring at a pile of gear wondering: Do I really need all this? What if I forget something important? What if I hate it?
Totally normal.…
When Emma Rowena Gatewood set out to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT) solo in 1955, she wasn’t equipped with state-of-the-art hiking boots, ultralight gear, or even a proper backpack. Instead, she carried a duffel sack over her shoulder, wore Keds…