Gracie and the Mountain: Growing Young Climbing Mount LeConte

by Emilie Ervin Powell

Grace McNicol’s lifelong delight in walking and hiking helped her achieve feats considered impossible by many. At the age of 62, she moved to Tennessee and began climbing Mount Le Conte, a 6,593-foot mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She overcame a broken back, two strokes, and other personal hardships to climb the mountain a record 244 times. This revised and expanded volume includes photos, diary entries, and Gracie’s Wildflower Notebook , which contains entries compiled during the year she made her 200th climb. This inspirational biography chronicles the uplifting life and achievements of a remarkable woman.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

Published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book written by and about Emilie Ervin Powell. In her 60's she started to hike alot. Her favorite mountain was Mount LeConte in the Smokey Mountains. She hiked it over 200 times. She helped others see the beauty and helped do trail maintenance.

[Amy Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short biography of Gracie McNicol, who climbed Mt Le Conte over 200 times between the ages of 62 and 90. Inspiring stuff! This is a restful read that made me want to get back out on the hiking trail and look for wildflowers. I devoured this book as it put me in the mind of the hiking trail full of wildflowers on the mountain behind our house in NW Ashe County NC, as well as many other hiking trails in our area that I love. It also gave me hope for my own future as I move into my 60s.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best written book, but a lovely homage to the Smokies, Gracie (who climbed it 244 times), and especially Le Conte.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Not the best written book, but very uplifting & inspiring. Gracie McNicol (born 10/01/1891) overcame severe illness as a young adult and became a nurse. She lived & worked for a time in Alaska, where she came to love walking in the wilderness. She lived a very frugal, simple life but traveled extensively. At an age when most people retire, Gracie settled in Knoxville, TN area, got another nursing job, and began a love affair with The Smoky Mountains, particularly Mount LeConte (elevation 6,593 feet). Over the course of the next 37 years, Gracie climbed Mount LeConte a staggering 244 (89 were by horseback). Her last trip was at age 92!! Gracie died in 1991, just 20 days shy of her 100th birthday.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently hiked Mount Le Conte, the 3rd highest mountain in the Smokies, with my mom, and she bought me this book. This is a biography about a lady who climbed the mountain, or rode up on horseback, over 200 times, starting when she was in her 60s with the last time when she was in her 90s. The writing is ok; the author jumps around a lot in her stories and tries to weave together piecemeal information from interviewing Gracie and from Gracie's journals. It wasn't the best book I have ever read, but it was still a cool and inspiring story about an aptly-named lady who appreciated simple things and did not allow age and finances to prevent her from living fully.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and inspirational!!! Affirms "never too old"! Gracie's love for the Smokies and her hikes to Mt. LeConte make for delightful reading.