In brief
An accomplished explorer and pioneering photographer, Helen’s legacy lives on through her remarkable journeys alongside her husband, Frank Schreider.
Helen Schreider, an intrepid explorer and photographer, passed away on February 6, in Santa Rosa, California, at the age of 98. Along with her husband, Frank Schreider, she made history as the first people to traverse the entire length of the Americas in an amphibious jeep named La Tortuga. Their journey, which began in the Arctic Circle and ended at the southernmost tip of South America, represented a significant achievement in exploration that was recognized by the Explorers Club in 1956 when Frank was inducted.Despite being part of this groundbreaking duo, Helen only gained recognition within the Explorers Club in 2015, a staggering 59 years after her husband. Her late induction was a testament to the club's gradual recognition of women's achievements, as conveyed by Faanya Rose, the first female president of the club, who honored Helen's bravery and curiosity despite the absence of accolades for women explorers at that time.Helen was also an ardent artist, often traveling with a drawing pad and colored pencils to capture the essence of her adventures across diverse regions including India, Africa, the Middle East, and the Amazon Basin. Alongside her husband, they documented their experiences through films and articles for National Geographic, inspiring future generations of explorers.Her passing is a poignant reminder of the valuable contributions of women in the field of exploration, a narrative that is now slowly being acknowledged as deserving of recognition. Helen Schreider leaves behind a legacy of commitment to adventure, creativity, and the enduring spirit of exploration.
