The 45 Most Adventurous Women of the Past 45 Years

Rock climber and mountaineer Emily Harrington and big-wave surfer Maya Gabeira are household names—not just to the outdoor community, but the world. We're celebrating and spotlighting the legendary women who made outdoor sports mainstream, as well as the freshman class of burgeoning athletes.

From freeskier Eileen Gu making Olympic history in Beijing to glaciologist and mountaineer Alison Criscitiello conducting groundbreaking ice core research atop the highest peak in Canada, these women have set world records and made agenda-pushing initiatives to make sport more inclusive.

Here are 45 of the most adventurous women in the world who are redefining the limits of what’s humanly possible. Meet the greatest adventure icons.

Activist, Author, and Runner

Olympic Freeskier

Whitewater Kayaker

Rock Climber and Mountaineer

Highliner

Marine Biologist and Photographer

Professional Guide and Adventurer

Endurance Cyclist

Ice Climber and Alpinist

Olympic Snowboarder

Scientist and Alpinist

Big-Wave Surfer

Educator and Documentarian

High-Speed Cyclist

Filmmaker and Activist

Mountain Biker and Activist

Free-Diver and Chef

Adventure Photographer

Former Big Mountain Skier

Rock Climber

Polar Guide and Expeditionist

Conservationist and Former CEO

Trail and Ultrarunner

Mountaineer and Mountaineering Guide

Mountaineer, Activist, and Environmentalist

In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis took the hiking world by storm. Averaging 47 miles a day, Pharr Davis set a new overall supported record on the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail. She did it in 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes, hiking from Maine to Georgia—with no major sponsors and only the support of her husband, Brew.

Filmmaker and Socio-Environmental Speaker

Director

Oceanographer and Marine Biologist

Rock Climber, BASE Jumper, and Wingsuit Flyer

"My expeditions unfold the roots of who we are as human beings," says Swiss explorer Sarah Marquis, who's walked solo across many of the world's most remote places. "The difficultly in life is to know your mission. Mine is to be a little bridge between humans and nature."