2013 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year

On her 140-mile ride across the Panjshir Valley in October 2010, Galpin crossed this river twice after being forced to turn around before attempting to ride up 14,000-foot Anjuman Pass, which marks the border of Panjshir Province. A sheepherder had warned her that there were gunrunners from a neighboring province in the mountains ahead. The decision to turn around was easily made.