Breaking Boundaries: Women in Adventure and Endurance

March 7, 2025

It is a story that we have heard time and time again - for centuries, women adventurers, endurance athletes, and outdoor pioneers have pushed boundaries, defying societal expectations and carving their own paths through mountains, forests, and continents. Yet, despite their extraordinary feats, history has often overlooked their stories, focusing instead on male counterparts who have traditionally received more recognition, funding, and media coverage.

This International Women’s Day, we wanted to celebrate the women who have forged ahead anyway - without waiting for permission, support, or fanfare. Their achievements speak for themselves, and their determination continues to inspire generations.

Women Have Always Been Adventurers

Annie Londonderry

Long before female endurance athletes were making headlines, women were quietly breaking records, scaling peaks, and venturing into the unknown - often without the recognition they deserved. There are so many examples, but here are a few you may (or may not) have heard of.

Annie Londonderry (1870–1947) – In 1895, Annie became the first woman to cycle around the world, proving that women were capable of endurance feats on the same level as men. She financed her journey through advertising, an early example of a woman finding creative ways to support her adventure.
Henriette d’Angeville (1794–1871) – In 1838, Henriette became the second woman in history to climb Mont Blanc - but unlike her predecessor, she did it without being carried (Marie Paradis was actually the first women to reach the summit in 1808. Unfortunately, Marie was so sick from the altitude, that she had to be carried up the last section of the mountain by her male guides). Facing ridicule and skepticism, she funded the expedition herself and led a team of guides to the summit, proving that women were more than capable of mountaineering on their own terms.
Junko Tabei (1939–2016) – In 1975, Junko became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, breaking into the male-dominated world of mountaineering at a time when women were often discouraged from extreme sports.
Gertrude Bell (1868–1926) – An explorer, mountaineer, and archaeologist, Bell traveled extensively across the Middle East, mapping and documenting regions that few had ventured into. Her contributions to exploration rivaled those of her male counterparts, yet her name is far less known than those like T.E. Lawrence.
Bessie Coleman (1892–1926) – The first African American and Native American woman to hold a pilot’s license, Coleman had to travel to France to receive training because no flight schools in the U.S. would accept her. She paved the way for women in aviation, showing that the sky was not the limit.

Elise Wortley

Elise Wortley, founder of ‘Woman with Altitude,’ takes inspiration from historical female explorers, retracing their journeys using only the equipment available to them at the time. Her most recent challenge is following in the footsteps (and following the fashion) of Henriette d’Angeville and climbing Mont Blanc. She highlights how many of these women have been blatantly written out of history:

"I believe there is a direct link between the stories of women like Henriette being overlooked and not given the media attention they deserved, to a lack of women in the outdoors today, because we all know that 'you can't be what you can't see'."

Modern Trailblazers: Defying the Odds

Jenny Tough

Even today, women pushing the boundaries of endurance and adventure are often met with skepticism - doubted not only by the industry but sometimes even by themselves. A lack of visible role models and historic underrepresentation can make it harder for women to see themselves as capable of extreme endurance challenges. Yet time and again, they prove that strength, resilience, and determination have nothing to do with gender.

"It didn’t seem to matter whether I was running 850km or 8.5km. I was constantly shown the general reaction to women doing hard things for themselves – a reaction of disbelief." — Jenny Tough

Jenny Tough, an adventurer who has run solo across mountain ranges on six continents, knows all too well the barriers women face in the outdoor space. While men have long been celebrated as trailblazers, women adventurers have often had to fight for the same level of acknowledgment - despite accomplishing equally, if not more, incredible feats.

Endurance cycling champion Emily Chappell, known for racing across continents, echoes this reality:

"When I announced that I was going to cycle round the world in 2010, a couple of people told me I’d be the first woman ever to do so, which even then I knew wasn’t the case. The earliest woman to (arguably) cycle round the world was Annie Londonderry in 1895. And I had read books by Anne Mustoe, the retired headmistress who had looped the planet twice by the time I discovered her work."

Emily Chappell

The challenge isn’t just the adventure itself but also the ongoing struggle for sponsorship, media representation, and support. In the world of ultra-endurance sports, where grit and resilience are everything, women have repeatedly proven their strength, yet funding and promotional opportunities remain disproportionately skewed toward men.

Despite these obstacles, women continue to rise. They climb higher, ride further, and run longer - not for recognition, but for the sheer joy of the outdoors, the challenge, and the chance to inspire others. They prove, time and time again, that adventure knows no gender.

The Future is Female (and Fearless)

This International Women’s Day, we want to celebrate all of the women who step outside, push their limits, and make history - even if the world isn’t always watching. Because whether they are recognised or not, their achievements matter. And they always have.

Tell us in the comments whose story you think deserves more recognition!

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FINDRA x FNY Collective

This International Women’s Day, in line with the theme ‘Accelerating Action,’ FINDRA is proud to partner with the FNY Collective to support more women stepping into leadership roles in mountain biking. Through the FINDRA Foundation, we’re funding two dedicated women to complete a Level 2 Mountain Bike Leadership qualification, alongside an extensive mentoring package. This initiative not only empowers individuals but also fosters a more inclusive and inspiring outdoor community. Together, we’re breaking down barriers and paving the way for more women to lead on and off the trails.

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