No, this is not a tour company that is taking women to one of the most inhospitable countries in regards to women’s rights. And, no, this is not yet another adrenaline junkie adventurer going to a very dangerous country in search of a few kicks. This is Shannon Galpin, the founder of Mountain 2 Mountain, an organization started in 2006 based on a simple and noble principle:

All women deserve the same rights and opportunities as her own daughter.

Shannon chose Afghanistan because of its terrible track record in women’s rights. Most would say that her choice of countries is either a lost cause or too dangerous to approach, but Shannon’s track record has proven to the contrary. In 2009, she was the first woman to ride a mountain bike in Afghanistan. In total she has traveled there 12 times; each time coming home not only happy and healthy, but also knowing that she is making a difference in a region that rarely gets any press beyond death tolls and security reports. [Read more...]