Participating is Easy
Saturday, October 24, 2026
6620 Zittlestown Rd. Middletown, MD 21769
Every year, Prime Time for Women honors Grandma Gatewood’s legacy with a series of hikes, designed for different ability levels.
We are back and bigger and better than ever! Prime Time for Women on Saturday, October 24, 2026 will host the 7th Annual Grandma Gatewood Hike & Birthday Bash Fundraiser. Together we celebrate the incredible legacy of two remarkable women! In September of 1955 Emma “Grandma” Gatewood became the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail and 70 years later, on September 12, 2525, Betty Kellenberger at age 80 broke the world’s record as the oldest woman to thru-hike the AT. We are super excited that Betty will be hiking with us and then telling her remarkable story at the Birthday Bash as we share a delicious meal together.
We will literally and figuratively walk in the footsteps of these trail blazing women as we celebrate their inspirational accomplishments with a series of hikes, designed for different ability levels: Gentle Hike, Intermediate Hike, and Virtual Hike.
Register for the hike of your choice and be sure to get your ticket for the Grandma Gatewood Birthday Bash, where Betty Kellenberger will share tales of her trail blazing, world-record breaking hike! The Birthday Bash will be held at the 19th Hole Restaurant, owned and operated by one of our very own members, Chef Carol Crosby. Trust me…you don’t want to miss the fun or Chef Crosby’s delicious fusion of afro-american treats.
October 24 from 6-8 p.m.
Who is Grandma Gatewood?
Grandma Gatewood was the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, and she accomplished this feat at 67 years of age! She was a survivor of severe domestic violence that left her hospitalized many times. When she was discouraged from hiking the 2,091 miles trail, she did it anyway! She was not limited by the perceptions of others. Grandma Gatewood embraced challenges as adventures, and pursued possibilities rather than probabilities.
Literally and figuratively, you can follow in the footsteps of this amazing woman! Enjoy the beauty of nature and the brilliant autumn foliage as you connect with others who, like Grandma Gatewood, believe in their power to make dreams come true! (We want to be inclusive of men and children.)
Get Involved Today...
The Gentle Hike is a 1/2 mile out and back walk to the beautiful and historic Washington Monument, built in 1827, which promises beautiful vistas of the valley cloaked in autumnal glory.
Considered an easy walk, with little elevation gain, this is the perfect intergenerational hike suitable for every age! We will sing Happy Birthday to Grandma Gatewood before the hike and have birthday cake in the parking lot following the hike.
Your registration includes a commemorative Grandma Gatewood Legacy Hike knit hat so you can hike all year long! Your support of this event enables Prime Time for Women to offer FREE community-based programs that foster healthy aging at every age.
The Intermediate Hike will begin at the parking lot at Washington Monument State Park. Along this 2-mile out and back hike, we will stop at the Washington Monument to take in the breathtaking views before continuing down the trail. Except for a moderate ¼ mile downhill section (which means one uphill section on the way back), this section of the Appalachian Trail is well-maintained, provides sure footing and is made easier by natural step-like features.
We will sing Happy Birthday to Grandma Gatewood before the hike and have birthday cake in the parking lot following the hike.
Your registration includes a commemorative Grandma Gatewood Legacy Hike knit hat so you can hike all year long! Your support of this event enables Prime Time for Women to offer FREE community-based programs that foster healthy aging at every age.
Can’t make it on October 24th? No problem! You can join us virtually and support two worthy nonprofits.Take and send pictures of your hike! We will share them on our website and post them on social media!
Eat. Drink. Party. Celebrate!
Not everyone wants to hike but everyone loves to celebrate inspiring women. Join Prime Time for Women as we honor two remarkable women who remind us that it’s never too late to pursue a dream!
In 1955 Grandma Gatewood, at age 67, became the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, and 70 years later Betty Kellenberger, on September12, 2025 broke the world record as the oldest woman to thru-hike the AT!
On Saturday, October 24th at 6-8 PM, we’ll gather at the 19th Hole Restaurant at Black Rock Golf Course for a delicious dinner prepared by one of our own, Chef Carolyn Crosby!
Betty will share stories from her incredible AT journey and inspire us all to discover our passions, follow our dreams, and embrace the adventures that life has to offer.
And, of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without singing “Happy Birthday” to Grandma Gatewood—and devouring some delicious birthday cake!
Come celebrate friendship, adventure, perseverance, and two extraordinary women who continue to inspire us to dream big and keep moving forward!
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Grandma Gatewood's Birthday Bash
Not everyone wants to hike but everyone loves to celebrate inspiring women. Join Prime Time for Women as we honor two remarkable women who remind us that it’s never too late to pursue a dream!
In 1955 Grandma Gatewood, at age 67, became the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, and 70 years later Betty Kellenberger, on September12, 2025 broke the world record as the oldest woman to thru-hike the AT!
On Saturday, October 24th at 6-8 PM, we’ll gather at the 19th Hole Restaurant at Black Rock Golf Course for a delicious dinner prepared by one of our own, Chef Carolyn Crosby!
Betty will share stories from her incredible AT journey and inspire us all to discover our passions, follow our dreams, and embrace the adventures that life has to offer.
And, of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without singing “Happy Birthday” to Grandma Gatewood—and devouring some delicious birthday cake!
Come celebrate friendship, adventure, perseverance, and two extraordinary women who continue to inspire us to dream big and keep moving forward!
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Are you a business owner interested in fostering healthy aging through our 5th Annual Gatewood Legacy Hike?
Your support will enable PTFW to continue FREE community-based programs (Walking to Wellness, PTFW Book Club and Saturday in the Park) that celebrate and foster healthy aging at every age!
Click below to view our sponsorship page.
