The Englishwoman Isabella Bird is 23 years old when a doctor recommends traveling to alleviate a persistent back ailment. In 1854, her father sends her by ship to relatives in North America. From there, Isabella ventures out on her own. She travels by train from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe, mounts a horse, and rides in a cowboy saddle through unexplored mountain regions, conquering the Rocky Mountains. It is a wild ride through rugged, entirely uncivilized areas that few men, let alone women, had dared to enter before. While still unwell in England, Isabella thrives in the adventurous foreign lands, overcoming all challenges in excellent health. A woman with a longing for travel! Isabella Bird's travel writings become classics of travel literature.