Wilderness Inspirations
Women's wilderness inspirations are gathered here to inspire you on those difficult days when it's hard not to give up. There are here to help you remember how strong you really are. If you know of a woman whose story fits the "Wilderness Inspirations" category please click here:
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Please see the contact numbers for domestic violence assistance below. Survival: A Poem of Domestic Violence The blows rain down What was it this time As I cower on the floor I must be calm try not to move. Time is a friend but not on my side Now I live in a palace Wilderness Inspiration: Anonymous Survivor Irene Gut Opdyke Wilderness Inspiration in WarIrene Gu Opdyke is unlike most women. After she was captured by the Germans to serve as a slave laborer she felt compelled to save as many others as she could. She was arrested one day while at church in a roundup of Polish citizens. German soldiers interrupted Mass and forced the parishioners into the streets. Irene was selected for labor and loaded in a truck with other prisoners. She was sent to work in a munitions factory. When she fell ill, a German officer, Major Eduard Rugemer, felt sorry for her and gave her a position in the kitchen of a hotel for Nazis.While she was setting tables one day she heard gunfire. Looking through a window she saw soldiers shooting the unarmed ghetto inhabitants and turning attack dogs on them. She wanted to scream, but Schulz, the German chef, held his hand over her mouth. "Don't cry--they will think you are a Jew-lover," he warned. That’s when Irene began helping Jews. A proclamation was made: anyone caught aiding a Jew would be put to death. Irene put leftovers in a box and left them just inside the ghetto fence. 
One of Irene’s friends, Helen Weinbaum was a Polish Catholic married to a Jewish man. Helen's husband, Henry, was taken away to a nearby work camp., Irene, Helen, and Irene's sister, Janina, went to the village to find Henry. When they got there they saw the SS rushing the Jews out of houses and shooting those unable to run fast enough. This meant that the elderly Jews and women with children were most of the victims. Irene witnessed a German officer tossing an infant into the air like a clay pigeon and shooting the child. Then he shot the grieving mother. The surviving prisoners were marched out of the village.Irene began to help them by giving them extra food and blankets, and recommending them for work with her in the kitchen. Schulz, the chef, helped her provide these items. One of Irene's friends, Fanka Silberman, heard her family being taken away and hid to protect herself. Two of the Jews Irene had gotten jobs for in the kitchen, Roman and Sozia, were sent away after being betrayed. Irene overheard rumors of another raid from Germans eating in the dining hall. Wilderness Inspiration:Irene then became an active smuggler and rescuer.Wilderness Inspiration. Irene drove six of the Jews, in a wagon, to the forest of Puszcza Janowska. Once safe in the forest, her passengers escaped into the deepest thickets. She met others over time that helped her in her efforts. A Polish Catholic priest, Father Joseph and a Polish forester helped her care for two of the Jewish ladies, one had a baby at his cottageThe German Officer who had a fondness for Irene decided that he wanted to live in a villa in town. He appointed Irene to oversee the work of remodeling. The villa turned out to be the perfect hiding place. Servants quarters were located in the basement and a bunker was accessible beneath the yard. So this Nazi German officer lived at ease without knowing that Jews were hidden right underneath him. Eventually Irene was found out. The officer was angry but he was also in a bad position. It would not look good for a Nazi officer to have Jews hiding in his own house. So Major Rugemer became a rescuer for a price. Irene was forced to become his mistress. Wilderness Inspiration: Wilderness and danger can happen in your own home. Irene is inspirational because of her kind heart and bravery. Wildness Inspiration: A Survivor story: Sarah* http://www.womensaid.org.ukThis is Sarah’s story of Wilderness Inspiration.The violence started pretty much right away; he drank far too much and was drunk a lot of the time. I grew up in a violent home, and had said that if a man ever hit me, I’d hit him back. The first time he hit me I did the worst thing I could have done –I hit back. He began punching me until he had to be dragged off me by two people who lived in the apartment upstairs. It became a regular occurrence; I was afraid to call the police because of the violence that would surely come afterwards. He told me that if I ever left him he’d find me and kill me. I became pregnant. On one occasion I wanted to go out. He stood in my way, smashed a bottle against the wall and held the broken bottle to my seven months pregnant stomach.I left several times, but always went back because I was scared of what he’d do when he found me. I had a visiting Nurse but didn't tell her what was happening because I was afraid they would take my baby away. I eventually dropped some hints. She was supportive without being interfering so I made the decision to tell her what was happening.. She was fantastic and told me about the 24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline. Wilderness Inspiration: I called and they put me in contact with local Women’s shelters.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: National Domestic Violence800-799-SAFE In England call:Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline(Run in partnership between Women's Aid & Refuge) Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 80 10 800 Scotland Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 027 1234 Northern Ireland 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline: 0800 917 1414 Rights of Women Sexual violence legal advice phone: 020 7251 8887 Jewish Women's Aid: 0800 591203 Apna Ghar - 0845 451 2547 Turkish Cypriot Women's Project - 0208 340 3300 Respect Phoneline - 0845 122 8609 Your Wilderness Inspiration challenge is to follow Sarah's example one step at a time. Dessert Run- wilderness inspiration agains all oddsDanelle Ballengee left her house in Moab during December of 2006 for a two hour run with her dog Taz. It was winter and cold enough that the ground was frozen in spots. Danelle’s foot slipped, and she started falling down a smooth rock face on her back. She then fell 20 feet off a ledge and fell to the canyon floor.Not knowing how hurt she was, her only thought was that she needed to get out of the canyon. Her body appeared useless so she began to drag herself along by her arms. This was around noon and she finally stopped around 5 PM when she reached a puddle of melted snow. She drank from the puddle but didn’t want to drink so much she would need to urinate because wet clothes would make her even more vulnerable to hypothermia. It became dark and the temperature had dropped to somewhere in the 20 ‘s. Danelle knew it was imperative to keep her core as warm as possible. She began doing stomach crunches, (she later learned her pelvis was broken in half) tapping her feet, and wiggling her hands. She carries a shower cap when she runs adventure races because it traps the heat from her head, thankfully she had one with her. She put it on. Wilderness inspiration: Danelle was wearing only lightweight pants, a polypropylene shirt and a thin fleece jacket. She was wearing a fleece hat. Afraid she would fall asleep and get colder she stayed awake doing crunches for the next 52 hours. 
By the following morning the adrenalin that had kept her going the day before was gone. Her pelvis felt like dead weight due to the massive internal bleeding and any movement resulted in unbearable pain. Her faithful dog stayed by her side as she yelled for help.By the third day she told Taz she was hurt and instructed him to go get help. Taz then ran four miles back to the truck that was being inspected by a rescue team. Taz became very agitated and avoided every effort to capture him. Finally he made eye contact with one of the rescuers and took off running back to Danelle. The team followed the dog back to his master. According to one of her doctors most people with this severe an injury die within ten hours. She was also told she would need to use a wheelchair for the next 6 to 12 months. By the end of the next six months Danelle had already run 3 adventure races. Wilderness Inspiration: Using her knowledge of the area and training strategies Danelle survived what could have been impossible odds. God provides what is needed no matter the situation. The Iditarod- an epic wilderness inspirationLibby Riddles moved to Alaska and discovered a passion in working sled dogs. In 1980 she decided to enter the grueling race called the Iditarod. The Iditarod is a sled dog race that begins in Anchorage Alaska and ends 1100 miles later in Nome. That year she placed 18th, and the next year she placed 20th. Not being content with these results she set her mind on becoming the first woman to win. She bred her own team of dogs and reentered the race in 1985. When a blizzard threatened to shut down the race, Libby was the only one determined to continue although it was nearly impossible to see the trail markers. Time and time again she would stop the sled and walk ahead until she could find the next marker. Libby became the first woman to win the Iditarod with a time of 18 days, 20 minutes and 17 seconds.
In 1986 Susan Butcher won. She won again in 1987 and 1988 in just over 11 days. The veterinary technician came in second place the next year and then won again in 1990. I can not imagine struggling through freezing temperatures,billowing winds and blinding snow for 11 days or more. To finish this race once is astonishing, to choose to do it year after year is simply incomprehensible. Incredible wilderness inspirations. Wilderness Inspiration: Norma Super Lost in Wyoming.Norma Super, a single mom, moved to Wyoming from Pennsylvania 2 months earlier. She and her 10 year old daughter, Danielle, decided to hike in the Encampment River Wilderness during Memorial Day weekend, 2002. They met a woman at the campground before they left and told her they planned to be back Monday. When they didn't return the woman reported them missing. They were found in northern Colorado five days later.
When they became lost, Norma being an experienced hiker followed the river. The problem was that in Pennsylvania the rivers usually flow from north to south, and this river runs from south to north. Their food ran out on Tuesday and Norma and Danielle made a promise to each other not to cry during the day because it takes too much energy, and they needed to keep hiking. Danielle proved to be a very strong young woman who continued to hike without stopping. They had a water purifier and warm sleeping bags which Norma attributes to their good condition. A couple of times helicopters flew over head, but the pair was in such dense forest they couldn't be seen. They hiked to the top of a mountain hoping they could signal to rescuers, but the snow became waist deep. Searchers found them in an area known to have black bears and mountain lions. Once they were fed and rested both Norma and Danielle said they would be back to hike again, this time with a global positioning system (GPS).That's a pretty good wilderness inspiration. This was Danielle's first hike. Abby Flantz and Erica Nelson -their wilderness inspirationWhile working in the Denali National Park, these women decided to go on an overnight hike into the wilderness in June of 2008. When they became lost they decided to keep hiking. They hiked 11 hours a day. They saw ridge after ridge, and mountain after mountain. They melted snow to have water to drink. Erica was convinced everything was going to be okay, and had a positive effect on Abby's fears.Searchers began looking for them when they didn't get to work the following that weekend. They were not heard from for five days. Then Erica was able to get a phone call to go through to her mom. She was able to tell her mom that they were both doing well. The signal was traced and found to be coming from the area that had been searched for the last four days. Two helicopters were sent to the location, but after several hours the women were still missing. Erica phoned her mother again. At the direction of the Park Service they switched to text messaging to save battery power. They described what they saw and heard. They were finally spotted by an airplane and picked up by a helicopter. Erica says her wilderness inspiration was she was going to be her sister's maid of honor that weekend. Erica boarded the plane to her sister's wedding the day after the rescue. Wilderness Inspiration: Tami Ashcroft- Lost at SeaDuring October 1983 Tami and her boyfriend Richard agreed to deliver a yacht from Tahiti to San Diego. Both of them were experienced sailors. The first week was perfect. This was a plush 44 ft yacht, and the sea was calm and beautiful.Reports of a storm off Central America sent Tami and Richard quickly north to try and out run it. Soon they were caught by Hurricane Raymond. Richard tied himself to a life line and sent Tami below. The huge yacht rolled over and flipped end over end. Tami regained consciousness 27 hours later to calm seas. Her head was covered in blood and Richard was no where to be found. She soon found out the yacht wasn't in good shape either. The mast was missing, all the electrical equipment was nonfunctional and lots of water was in the cabin. Unable to take it all in, Tami forgot to eat. She was in shock from Richard's disappearance and weak from her injuries.
After two days of doing nothing a voice inside her began to insist that she get herself together. (that's inspiration) She felt alone and trapped, but says the voice kept her focused on a plan. She was able to determine where she was by using a sextant, then she rigged a makeshift sail aiming toward the currents drifting to Hawaii. It took 42 days to reach Hilo Harbor.You can read her detailed story called "Red Sky in Mourning" A true Wilderness Inspiration. Tami still enjoys sailing.
Wilderness Inspiration in the JungleJuliane Koepcke was only seventeen and flying in an airplane with her mom from Lima, Peru to Pucallpa where they would meet her father. It was Christmas Eve 1971, and Juliane had just graduated from High School.Their plane suddenly hit an unexpected storm. She could see the right wing on fire. Looking to her mother for reassurance her mother replied,"This is the end of everything." Then Juleane remembers feeling like she was whirling through the air. 
She regained consciousness three hours later still seat-belted in her chair in the middle of the Amazon forest. She couldn't see from one eye, her collarbone was broken, and she had a nasty cut on her arm. Juliane removed herself from the seat and started looking for her mom. The only other people she found were three women also in their seats, but obviously dead. The other 91 passengers and crew had not survived.Juliane somehow remembered her father telling her to go downhill in the jungle, it will lead to water, and water will lead to people.(Could that be Wilderness Inspiration?) After 10 days she came across a hunting hut and used salt and kerosene to clean and remove the worms that had grown into her injuries. The next day hunters found her with only one shoe and dressed in a miniskirt. They took her to the nearest village where she was flown by an airplane to reunite with her father. Amy Racina: Hiking Ordeal Wilderness Inspiration
Amy Racina went hiking alone, planning to hike through Kings Canyon National Park for 16 days. She fell 60 feet onto granite, breaking both her legs. For four days she pulled herself along through the forest by her hands.From her wilderness inspiration, Amy wrote a book called, "Angels in the Wilderness."
Wilderness Inspiration from a 76 year old grandmotherDoris Anderson a 76 year old grandmother, and her husband Harold headed to the mountains to go bow hunting on August 24, 2007. Their trailer got stuck and Harold broke his wrist trying to disconnect the vehicle so they could drive for help. They began to hike back to the road for help. Doris decided to go back to the car.Search teams looked for her for 5 days, but then were ready to give up. Temperatures were near 80 degrees F during the day, and close to 30 degrees at night. Her family began to plan a memorial service to be held 2 weeks after she went missing. 
Doris was found after 10 days lying next to a creek at the bottom of a steep canyon. She had no shoes, was dressed in light clothing and had no food. The calls of ravens in the surrounding trees and her own faint voice led Sheriff deputies to her side.Her sister in law had said, "Light a candle and God will take care of her."Perhaps that was wilderness inspiration. Wilderness Inspiration: Carolyn Dorn vs Gila Wilderness, New Mexico.Carolyn Dorn age 52 left her campsite on December 7,2007. She entered the Gila Wilderness area wanting to test her body and soul, and perhaps searching for understanding. She was depressed and mourning the loss of her dog two months earlier and had been unable to find work while staying with her sister. She planned to either live or die in the wilderness, but didn't want to return.Carolyn had found a cave while hiking in this area 10 years ago and planned to head there. She was prepared to eat off the land so brought only peanut butter and nuts and "The field Guide to Wilderness Survival" by Tom Brown. After five or six days of unseasonably warm weather she realized it really was winter and vegetation would be minimal. She boiled dandelion leaves and roasted roots. Carolyn stumbled across the cave she remembered and settled in. Although her mind was insisting she go back, Carolyn decided to stay. For a week she drank river water and ate what few green grasses she could find. Now truly hungry she decided she would have to go get more supplies. It was after Christmas, and the weather now consisted of rain, snow, and freezing temperatures. She soon discovered all the rain had flooded her only path out. The water was up to her thighs and extremely cold. She was stuck. The weather continued to be bad, and unbeknown to her the search for her was being called off. She was presumed dead.
Wilderness Inspiration: Carolyn began to meditate and pray. She was afraid one day she just wouldn't wake up. She prayed for herself and her family. The thought of food was her wilderness inspiration. She thought about what she would ask for her last meal if she was in prison. (Barbecue ribs, onion rings, and garlic bread) On January 12, 2008 she opened her tent and saw two hikers across the river. She called to them, but they couldn't see her, so she began to run down the trail towards them. Her stomach cramped and she began vomiting, collapsing to the ground. She could no longer see them and thought she had been hallucinating. But Carolyn struggled on until she reached the hikers-two brothers. They made a fire for her, gave her food and a book "Chasing the Dime" by Michael Connelly. The Kottke brothers then left to get help. 2 days later before dawn, Carolyn woke up because of the sound of a helicopter, and then saw it's search light. Knowing it was sent to find her she ran into the search light and started waving. She lost 20 pounds and gained spiritual awareness. She also found a new friend Jo Remondini, who had looked for her the entire time she was missing. Jo came to see her every day she was in the hospital. The two women consider themselves "soul sisters" now, and are planning to work together teaching survival skills to others. You may also choose to return to the home page for the index by clicking here.
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My son and I took refuge outside of the local area, so that my ex couldn’t find me. It has taken some time to get over the psychological effects of the abuse, but I am rebuilding my life and studying for a sociology degree at the university. My son is doing well at school and we are looking forward to a happy future.
After being gone for three weeks with hardly any food she realized she now wanted to live, and wanted to go back to civilization, but couldn't because of the bad weather and her weak condition. From then on she lived in her tent, occasionally looked for fire wood, gathered any grasses she could, and drank from the river. If she tried to be very active she began to vomit. 
