Wow! There are not many of her ilk left.. thank the gods (Viking ones) she was okay. J/K - thank ALL the gods…Not sure I could have passed her by seeing the struggle, then again my feeble attempts to help may have drowned us both!
I love to think in my overheated imagination that I would have helped. I was too far back in the line to get there in time, and by the time I might have waded out to her, she was already back in her saddle. The stories I tell myself.
What a gripping story! Julia, thank you for reminding us that true leadership isn't just about charisma or authority, but about taking decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of others, even at personal risk. It definitely makes me want to seek out more adventures and witness such remarkable acts of courage firsthand.
Mo, if nothing else at all, this is just one reason I head out into the hinterlands. Not only do I witness such things, but every so often I get called upon myself. Nature causes us to know ourselves. Thanks so much.
Julia, this story inspires me tremendously! What courage, tenacity and altruism! I appreciate how you share stories of not only your own experience but the people you have met and the actions you have observed during your adventures. I was in Iceland back in 1999 and had the fortune of riding an Icelandic horse--the first and last time I ever rode a horse. What memory! This essay brings those memories all back. Having seen the waterfalls there, I can imagine what your German guide went through. So brave!
Thanks Louisa. I'm mindful that the world is interested in a lot more than just my personal stories, and that's what I hope to share. I miss Iceland and really hope to go back and ride again!
You note that I refrained from going there. It would have been a very different story if I had, and I wanted to shine the light on her, not on the German girls. They were a whole other story line and a very bad memory. I am letting that rest.
Hi Julia. That is quite the story and one for the warrior books. She is to be commended for her selflessness and determination. I am going to Iceland in July with a friend as part of a women’s group. It is an immersion retreat with the locals, horseback riding, yoga and so many other adventures, I can hardly wait for it to get here. We will not be riding to the extent you did, as this retreat has many other activities to experience but will be riding. You only turn 60 once and this is the year I do so, and I’m celebrating all year. 😊
Charlene, the year I turned sixty I trained for and summitted Kilimanjaro. After that I took on an average of four big trips a year, until finally I had to get some repairs so that I could get back out there again. Twelve years of this. I can't wait, I've got three big adventures already planned this summer. Sixty is NUTHIN. I'm 71, and the way I see it, if we're willing to do the work to stay in shape, and we're willing to head out into the hinterlands, we're only just getting started. I wish you an AMAZING trip. Bring layers!!!
You are awesome! The old job gets in my way of the adventures I would love to be doing so for now, I do what I can. I am a lover of the mountains and I can only imagine your experiences. Godspeed!
What a warrior woman -- and what an awesome horse. I've only gotten to ride in Iceland for a two-hour experience at a wonderful horse farm outside of the town of Hella. It was September, wit howling wind and sideways rain, weather I would NOT want to ride any horse I've ever known except for the sturdy, imperturbable-yet-spirited Icelandic steeds. I would love to go back and take a longer ride, although I don't know if I'd want to do an entire 10-day trek. My @$$ might never recover.
Truth. I was there in 2018 and the only part of the trip that wasn't seriously spendy was the flights there and back. Also, it's not a place you go to for the food, IM(never H)O.
I wasn't prepared for how expensive the food was, but I did bring all my own snacks for the ride. Good thing. Somehow I never was drawn to the rotten shark dish. Just saying.
Gosh, what a story. As a rider myself I know how quick things happen, and how bad it can get, but this story is next level. That woman deserves an Oscar, or the Nobel prize, or something. And for her horse to just stand and wait is also amazing. Thank you for this incredible story. I'd love to hear more of your riding stories if you have some. xx
I'm currently digging through twelve years of adventures, and will be posting those as I can find them, recall them, and find my photos for them. Promise!
Wow! There are not many of her ilk left.. thank the gods (Viking ones) she was okay. J/K - thank ALL the gods…Not sure I could have passed her by seeing the struggle, then again my feeble attempts to help may have drowned us both!
I love to think in my overheated imagination that I would have helped. I was too far back in the line to get there in time, and by the time I might have waded out to her, she was already back in her saddle. The stories I tell myself.
What a gripping story! Julia, thank you for reminding us that true leadership isn't just about charisma or authority, but about taking decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of others, even at personal risk. It definitely makes me want to seek out more adventures and witness such remarkable acts of courage firsthand.
Mo, if nothing else at all, this is just one reason I head out into the hinterlands. Not only do I witness such things, but every so often I get called upon myself. Nature causes us to know ourselves. Thanks so much.
As if I needed more proof that my next wife is currently somewhere in Iceland!
There's that. I was checking pricing today....
Julia, this story inspires me tremendously! What courage, tenacity and altruism! I appreciate how you share stories of not only your own experience but the people you have met and the actions you have observed during your adventures. I was in Iceland back in 1999 and had the fortune of riding an Icelandic horse--the first and last time I ever rode a horse. What memory! This essay brings those memories all back. Having seen the waterfalls there, I can imagine what your German guide went through. So brave!
Thanks Louisa. I'm mindful that the world is interested in a lot more than just my personal stories, and that's what I hope to share. I miss Iceland and really hope to go back and ride again!
Wow! Wonderful!
What a remarkable story
I find it impossible to believe no one stopped to help her.
You note that I refrained from going there. It would have been a very different story if I had, and I wanted to shine the light on her, not on the German girls. They were a whole other story line and a very bad memory. I am letting that rest.
Hi Julia. That is quite the story and one for the warrior books. She is to be commended for her selflessness and determination. I am going to Iceland in July with a friend as part of a women’s group. It is an immersion retreat with the locals, horseback riding, yoga and so many other adventures, I can hardly wait for it to get here. We will not be riding to the extent you did, as this retreat has many other activities to experience but will be riding. You only turn 60 once and this is the year I do so, and I’m celebrating all year. 😊
Charlene, the year I turned sixty I trained for and summitted Kilimanjaro. After that I took on an average of four big trips a year, until finally I had to get some repairs so that I could get back out there again. Twelve years of this. I can't wait, I've got three big adventures already planned this summer. Sixty is NUTHIN. I'm 71, and the way I see it, if we're willing to do the work to stay in shape, and we're willing to head out into the hinterlands, we're only just getting started. I wish you an AMAZING trip. Bring layers!!!
You are awesome! The old job gets in my way of the adventures I would love to be doing so for now, I do what I can. I am a lover of the mountains and I can only imagine your experiences. Godspeed!
What a warrior woman -- and what an awesome horse. I've only gotten to ride in Iceland for a two-hour experience at a wonderful horse farm outside of the town of Hella. It was September, wit howling wind and sideways rain, weather I would NOT want to ride any horse I've ever known except for the sturdy, imperturbable-yet-spirited Icelandic steeds. I would love to go back and take a longer ride, although I don't know if I'd want to do an entire 10-day trek. My @$$ might never recover.
It's quite a wallet dump. I want to go back but Iceland is a lot more expensive nine years later....is it worth it? Depends, I guess.
Truth. I was there in 2018 and the only part of the trip that wasn't seriously spendy was the flights there and back. Also, it's not a place you go to for the food, IM(never H)O.
I wasn't prepared for how expensive the food was, but I did bring all my own snacks for the ride. Good thing. Somehow I never was drawn to the rotten shark dish. Just saying.
Or puffin. Or whale. Or, god forbid, horse!
Both rider and horse were heroic. Thanks for sharing this story.
Thanks David. I really can't wait to head back. Those were amazing experiences.
Gosh, what a story. As a rider myself I know how quick things happen, and how bad it can get, but this story is next level. That woman deserves an Oscar, or the Nobel prize, or something. And for her horse to just stand and wait is also amazing. Thank you for this incredible story. I'd love to hear more of your riding stories if you have some. xx
I'm currently digging through twelve years of adventures, and will be posting those as I can find them, recall them, and find my photos for them. Promise!