Minnesota Woman Crosses the Namib Desert

 

 

Many of Concha Fernandez del Rey’s friends told her it might be too dangerous for her to cross the Namib Desert in Africa, which is 55 to 80 million years old — the oldest desert on Earth. Even the expedition leader was not entirely certain Concha’s body would withstand the demands of the Namib.

Yet in the end, she stood on top of a majestic dune in the golden light of the late afternoon sun, gazing out on endless dunes. At just over five feet tall, she is the smallest participant to have completed the Namib Desert Expedition. And by her own admission, she did not arrive in peak physical condition.

As founder and expedition leader of the expedition, I initially hesitated before accepting Concha onto the team. The Namib is not forgiving. This expedition is not a wellness retreat. It is physically and mentally demanding. And honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure whether Concha’s body would manage the challenge.

But Concha’s mindset and determination were strong. Her spirit had a fire.

Over the five days of crossing one of the most harsh and remote landscapes on Earth, Concha proved that the limits we place on ourselves are often smaller than the strength of the human mind.

 

 

At the Namib Desert, there are moments where every dune feels steeper than the last — endless stretches of soft sand where every step slides backwards again. Hours under the harsh African sun. Thick Atlantic fog rolls through the dunes. Deep physical fatigue settles into the body day after day.

Concha continued to radiate determination, gratitude, joy, and love.

After the expedition, Concha admitted: “I surprised myself. I swam in enjoyment the entire way. I truly did not have negative thoughts. Even during the difficult moments, I felt alive, connected, and strangely at peace. I feel deeply grateful that I fit into this circle of such inspiring, accomplished, and courageous women.”

Originally from Spain and now living in Woodbury, Concha had recently retired from her role as a school principal after decades supporting students, teachers, and families. Even after retirement, she supported education leaders professionally while also serving as an Honorary Consul for Spain across three American states.

Like so many high-achieving women, she had spent years being the strong one. The reliable one. The one others depended on. But somewhere underneath the structure and responsibility of daily life, another question had quietly emerged: What happens when one chapter of life ends? And who are you when the next one begins?

“This moment in my life feels like a new beginning,” Concha had shared before the expedition. “I’m open to the unknown, to deep connections, and to learning in ways that only experiences like this can offer.”

What she found in the Namib was more than a physical challenge.

The Namib Desert Expedition is five days of women from around the world crossing 75 miles with no phones, no distractions, no deadlines, no noise. Only sand, silence, and sun.

The selected women on the expedition came from all over the world, including entrepreneurs, scientists, creatives, and leaders. Some arrived after career transitions. Others after divorce, or personal loss, or years of prioritizing everyone else.

Women encouraged each other through exhaustion and doubt. They waited for one another at the top of dunes, and walked together through silence and struggle.

At the end, Concha said: “I’m so happy. I’m very thankful for the trust of everybody that I could do it. That really carried me through.” With a twinkle in the eye, she added, “And this was much easier than I thought.”

I see the personal growth and sisterhood that develops during these expeditions. At first, individually there is fear that perhaps they are not capable of something big. That maybe they are not strong enough. That they might let others down.

The desert does not suddenly became easy. And for Concha, physically, she had to push much harder than others in the team, taking many more steps. There were moments when her body struggled harder. But mentally, again and again, she simply chose to “keep going,” as the put it. And in doing so, she became an inspiration to others on the team.

“I just feel so different,” Concha shared with me. “It’s like I grew – inside and outside. I feel empowered to continue living my life the way I want it.”

What I see with women on this expedition is that strength is not always loud. Sometimes resilience looks like a small woman standing at the bottom of another impossible dune, taking a breath, and climbing it anyway.

The desert did not give Concha new strength. It simply revealed the strength she had been carrying all along.

 

Sonja Piontek created the Namib Desert Expedition, which crosses 120 kilometers through the Namib Desert. Camps are set up each night with individual tents under the stars. Having overcome personal loss and major life challenges herself, she understands firsthand that true transformation is rarely born from comfort.

 

 

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