🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you.

Para Horse Rider Stephanie Quintrell Crosses The Pyrenees In A World First Expedition.

In 2023, Stephanie Quintrell became the first wheelchair-dependent woman to traverse the Pyrenees on horseback — five days in the saddle, over 130 kilometres from France into Spain, following the World War II Freedom Trails. In this episode, Steph shares how a sudden 48-hour illness in July 2019 changed her life, the bond with her horse Bubba that pulled her through, what it took to ride that mountain pass, and her next world-first attempt: crossing the Andes from Argentina to Chile in February 2027.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Freedom in the Saddle
• 01:01 — Welcome & Episode Intro
• 02:43 — Meet Stephanie Quintrell
• 03:52 — Growing Up with Horses
• 06:46 — Riding Across Scotland
• 08:21 — Meeting John & Becoming a Military Wife
• 10:46 — 48 Hours That Changed Everything
• 12:56 — Diagnosis: Functional Neurological Disorder
• 15:27 — Grief, Identity & Rebuilding
• 19:33 — The Bond That Pulled Her Through
• 22:35 — Back in the Saddle
• 28:15 — Forces Wives Challenge
• 32:51 — Ride to Freedom: Crossing the Pyrenees
• 34:16 — The Mérens Horses
• 37:14 — Adapted Tack & Riding Gear
• 38:15 — Day One on the Trail
• 40:56 — Weather, Teamwork & Trust
• 46:22 — A Day Without the Wheelchair
• 48:35 — Crossing into Spain
• 51:28 — What's Next: Equine Para Adventures
• 54:01 — Ride to Independence: The Andes 2027
• 58:10 — Inspiring Others to Adventure
• 1:03:53 — Pay It Forward: Adaptive Grand Slam
• 1:05:18 — Call to Adventure: Get on a Horse
• 1:07:34 — 10 Quickfire Questions
• 1:11:43 — Where to Find Stephanie Quintrell

Key Takeaways

• A sudden onset: Steph went from full-time working mum and competitive rider to losing the ability to walk within 48 hours in July 2019, later diagnosed with Complex Functional Neurological Disorder.
• Horses as freedom: In the saddle she's independent — able to access mountains and trails her wheelchair can't reach.
• A world first: Five days, 130+ km, ascents to 2,500 m across the Pyrenees, following WWII Freedom Trails on native Mérens horses.
• The wheelchair stayed strapped to the pack pony: On the toughest day, she spent nine hours out of her wheelchair entirely.
• Next up: Ride to Independence — crossing the Andes from Argentina to Chile, up to 4,400 m, February 2027.

• Equine Para Adventures
• Forces Wives Challenge
• Steph on Instagram

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thanks For Listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content.

Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world

The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

In this quickfire "10 Questions" segment, Chris chats with adventurer Jude Kriwald behind the scenes about everything from philosophy to survival.

Listen to the FULL Episode here

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thanks For Listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content.

Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world

The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you.

From a desk job in IT to flying one of the world's most dangerous bush pilot routes — Matt Dearden spent seven years flying the Pilatus Porter into 30% gradient mountain airstrips in the remote highlands of Papua, Indonesia. After landing a Susi Air co-pilot job with just 10 days' notice, Matt sold his car, rented out his house, and boarded a one-way flight to a country he'd never visited.

In this episode of The Adventure Diaries, Matt shares how crippling anxiety nearly grounded his flying career, what it's like supplying indigenous Papuan villages only reachable by air, and the near-misses, jungle landings, and cultural encounters that turned a two-year plan into a seven-year adventure. Featured in Channel 4's The Worst Place to Be a Pilot and author of Flying from Shangri-La, Matt offers a rare look at frontier aviation, mental health in high-pressure careers, and the power of pushing your comfort zone — in the air and in life.

Chapters
00:00 - Bush Pilot in Papua, Indonesia
2:48 — Welcome Matt Dearden to the Adventure Diaries
3:41 — Expat Childhood: Middle East to Boarding School
5:40 — RAF Cadets and the First Taste of Flying
8:37 — From IT Career to Commercial Pilot Training
12:31 — Mental Health, Anxiety, and Finding Clarity in the Cockpit
17:20 — Landing a Pilot Job in Indonesia with 10 Days Notice
20:41 — Arriving in Jakarta: Culture Shock and Susi Air Training
33:30 — Discovering Papua: Bush Flying the Pilatus Porter
50:00 — Extreme Airstrips, 30% Gradients, and Near Misses
1:08:01 — The Worst Place to Be a Pilot: Channel 4 TV Series and Book
1:13:25 — Closing Traditions: Pay It Forward, Call to Adventure & Quickfire


Follow Matt

• https://mattdearden.co.uk/
• https://www.instagram.com/indopilot/
• His Book - Flying From Shangri La
  
  
  
• Topics: bush flying, Pilatus Porter, Susi Air, Papua Indonesia, Cessna Caravan, mountain airstrips, aviation careers, mental health, anxiety, adventure travel, expat life, career change.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thanks For Listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content.

Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world

The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering