Persevering Through the Storm

When Sean set out to cross Iceland’s rugged highlands this summer, comfort wasn’t his goal — he was after a challenge. For 10 days, he journeyed through a landscape shaped by glacial ice and volcanic fire — under skies that could shift from still blue to a blinding whiteout in minutes.

On that first day, “the rain had been gently coming down all morning, which we expected. It’s Iceland,” Sean said. “We’re all bubbled up in our rain gear. At this point, we’re pretty low elevation. But as we’re walking up this trail, the rain just continues to pick up in intensity, and by the time we got up to 3,000–3,500 feet elevation, it was just really coming down. It started getting very windy, and temperatures were dropping into the 30s.”

To make matters worse, “there are no trees, so you’re just exposed to the elements the whole time,” he continued. “And it was raining so hard you couldn’t stop to do anything. No stopping to open your backpack and get out a hat or gloves or grab a snack.”

Luckily, Sean and his hiking companion, Gregg, eventually came across a hut along the trail and stopped to rest and regroup, taking advantage of this opportunity to pack on additional dry, insulating layers. Inside, many other hikers were doing the same, peeling off drenched clothing, huddling up for warmth and sharing news of a dire situation farther up the trail: Two hypothermic hikers — an older couple from Chile — were in desperate need of rescue.

Hearing that Sean and Gregg were gearing up to set out again, the hut keeper piled extra wool sweaters and dry base layers into their packs to pass off to the couple. Back on the trail, rain was coming down sideways, with wind that could easily knock weary hikers off their feet.

“I remember, at one point, I looked at a small waterfall, and it was blowing uphill,” Sean said. “The gusts were so strong you had to brace yourself or else they would push you back. And we were just thoroughly soaking wet. My friend and I looked at each other, and we just knew we were in it. We just had to stay together, stay warm and stay on trail. Make a mistake, and we could be in real trouble.”

After many grueling miles, the pair finally made it to the couple, who were wrapped in the embrace of strangers that had stopped to share their body heat for as long as they could. Minutes later, the rescue team arrived, and, knowing the hikers were in good hands, Sean and Gregg continued on for their own safety. Seven miles down; nine more to go.

Fortunately, as they descended back down the glacier, the rain gradually stopped. They pitched their tents, hung their wet clothes to dry, and Day One’s trial-by-fire, a test of endurance and perspective, was complete.

“It was just an incredibly exhilarating experience — using your body and mind and forward momentum to just get to the other side,” Sean said. “At that point, the main thing going through your mind is ‘Just keep moving.’”

For Sean, the experience offered more than adventure: It was a reminder of what it means to persevere in all aspects of life, including in his work.

At The Hands of Sean Perry, every project brings its own version of rough terrain: unforeseen structural issues, supply chain delays, evolving design needs. And progress depends on preparation, teamwork and a steady belief in the process.

“In both settings, you have to have the tenacity to keep moving forward,” Sean said. “You look for the trail markers — those small, steady signs that tell you you’re still on course. You have to lean on each other, trust each other, and collaborate and communicate with your team. Stay warm, stay together and stay on trail.”

Back on the trail, when the wind and rain finally calmed, the clouds lifted to reveal an endless sweep of mossy earth and glacier-carved ridges — a reminder that beauty often reveals itself after the hard work is done.

“That moment of calm on the other side of the storm — that’s what I want our clients to feel when they walk into a finished home,” Sean said. “The sense that every challenge was worth it, because what you’ve created together will last.”