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Alex Staniforth

Alex Staniforth

Adversity Adventurer, Motivational Resilience Speaker, Author and Mental Health Activist

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Books

Alex’s books ‘Icefall’ and ‘Another Peak’ are much more than adventure stories. Ideal for adventure enthusiasts, athletes, or anyone experiencing mental ill health or major challenges in life, they offer an honest and approachable perspective of overcoming challenges both in the Himalayas and closer to home. 

Icefall: The True Story of a Teenager on a Mission to the Top of the World

Icefall

 Alex’s debut book ‘Icefall’ tells the true story of overcoming adversity on a relentless journey to the top of the world, recalling the two consecutive biggest disasters in Everest history first-hand. 

It has been endorsed by Bear Grylls and explorer Mark Wood. Icefall won bronze in the Readers Favorite International Book Contest 2016 and was featured in the Chester Literature Festival.

Published in March 2016 by Coventry House.

A suspenseful memoir marked by adventure, hardship, and achievement, Icefall is the remarkable true story of a teenager’s journey to conquer Mount Everest. Plagued by adversity and epilepsy as a child, Alex developed a determination and will to succeed that would ultimately lead him from his home in Cheshire, England to the face of Everest at only eighteen years old. Though his will to reach the summit was extraordinary, he could have never anticipated the unprecedented dangers and risks that the mountain had in store for him. In this inspirational tale of tragedy and redemption, Alex reveals the universal truth that adversity may be the greatest teacher of all, but nothing can teach you more about life than death.

“Obstacles are opportunities in disguise – and Alex knows this all too well. High achievement requires high sacrifice, but Alex is a man determined to make his Everest dream a reality.” 

– Bear Grylls

Another Peak by Alex Staniforth

Another Peak

Another Peak follows Icefall to share the journey to find a new Everest in life. It recalls the record-breaking journey of Alex’s ClimbTheUK challenge to climb all 100 UK county tops, whilst exploring the peaks and troughs of mental ill health through the outdoors and adventure, helping anyone find hope, purpose and inspiration in their lives.

Published by Trigger Press in 2019.

Reaching Everest was always the dream, but after an avalanche stopped Alex the first time and an earthquake the second, he had to take a step back. But even as he climbed down, he couldn’t stop wondering ‘What’s next?’ A restlessness in his bones, and a need to help make things better after the lives claimed in his two climbs, led Alex to his hardest mission yet: ClimbTheUK; to cycle to the highest points of the United Kingdom.

But a history of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders rears its multiple heads once more, making this the hardest thing Alex has ever had to do. Finding himself alone too often, with only his thoughts for company, it becomes less of a fight of man and nature and more of man and mind...

Personally signed copies available during check-out (please leave note in ‘Special Instructions’)

  • Icefall: The True Story of a Teenager on a Mission to the Top of the World

    Icefall

    £11.99
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  • Icefall and Another Peak – Combo Offer

    £18.99
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  • Another Peak by Alex Staniforth

    Another Peak – Everest is Not the Only Summit

    £9.49
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Don't take my word for it...

Descriptions of Everest Base Camp in both 2014 and 2015 are honest and harrowing. This is a great read and I'm excited to see what Alex does next.
Adventure Travel Magazine
It was an epic event which provoked him to sit down and write an autobiography at the unfeasibly young age of 19. The result is an enthralling tale, well told.
Cheshire Life
Books about Everest have become so commonplace that readers might wonder if there’s still anything new to say about the mountain. And, let’s face it, ‘inspirational’ is an over-used word these days – in fact, I tend to avoid it. But in the case of Alex Staniforth and his book Icefall, inspirational is the right word to use. This is one of the most remarkable books about Everest I have ever read, and it deserves its place in the corpus of work about the mountain...
Alex Roddie / full review
Even if you are not a mountain climber or never dream of climbing Mount Everest, there are valuable lessons in Icefall by Alex Staniforth. Icefall is so much more than just an adventure story about a teenager who climbs a mountain. It is a well-written narrative with a very personal style that makes it feel as if Alex Staniforth is talking to you directly. I loved the personality that flowed from these pages and really made Alex feel like a friend, especially as he talked about sharing his dream of his ascent... 
Readers Favourite / Full review
Fantastic, fascinating journey of a young man. I enjoyed the book immensely and it gave me hope and inspiration to strive for better things. If anybody has struggles in their life this is a lovely book to give a positive outlook. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, it is well written... what a little gem.
Reader Review
I was very much looking forward to Alex's book hitting the shelves, and I wasn't disappointed! Proof that when someone puts their mind to achieving a goal, it can be reached, despite the multitude of hurdles that have to be overcome. If you're lacking inspiration and get-up-and-go, then this is the book for you.
Reader Review
Adversity can be so cruel but Alex has fought back time and time again. The book also shows that one mans achievements are grown within a community and that we are to never rule out our dreams. Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring me to get out and get on.
Reader Review
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Alex’s Charity

 

 

 

 

Mind Over Mountains is a charity restoring mental health naturally through therapeutic outdoor experiences.

Read more and join us at: www.mindovermountains.org.uk

Contact Alex
alex@alexstaniforth.com

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Instagram

alexstaniforth_

Climbing mountains and the mind.
Charity Founder @mindomountains
🌎 The Lake District #GetOutside
Athlete @inov_8 @ordnancesurvey @ellisbrigham

Alex Staniforth - Adventurer
Back where it all began. Running with my old man! Back where it all began. Running with my old man!

Last March I got my Parkrun PB at Keswick and this weekend got my slowest at Fell Foot.

The plan was to keep my heart rate under 145bpm to avoid another crash of fatigue, which meant walking most of the hills. It took the discipline of Yoda not to set off chasing people like the good old days, especially when my dad overtook me in the first km. 

I hated exercise as a kid. On holiday in France my stepmum bribed me with €2 to run a mile with him. That was a lot of money back then... I hated every minute but dad inspired me to enter a 10km race for charity, and the rest is history. Dad came to watch every race since, as I happily claimed the family record at every distance from 5km to marathon, whilst he retired to become a Parkrun tourist. 

Never thought he'd beat me again, but never forget where you started.
.
#LongCovid #TheComeback #MatchingJackets #parkrun #loveparkrun #fellfootpark
#LakeDistrict #lakedistrictuk #runninginspiration #Fellfoot #windermere #parkruntourist #fatherson
Much-needed adventure inspiration from @mrmarkbeau Much-needed adventure inspiration from @mrmarkbeaumont on his Faster tour at Rheged last weekend. 

Mark is the fastest person to cycle around the world in 80 days (that's 240 miles a day... for perspective) amongst many other records. He's been a huge personal inspiration and kindly endorsed my 2nd book.

So much resonated, but a few favourite takeaways: 

- Trust the process, the bigger picture will always take care of itself. 

- Remove the faff. His team had to ensure he was on the bike by 4am, not 4:05am. That would have added an entire day to his record.

- Mark had 40 people working on his world record. He knew that if he failed, the whole team failed. 

- Good times won't last forever, but that means the bad ones won't either... 

Thanks Mark. Grab his books, talks and films if you're needing some adventure inspiration! 

#faster #worldcycle #ultracycling #markbeaumont #inspiration #80days #mindset #cyclingheroes #rheged #ultracyclist 
@speakersfromtheedge
214/214 Wainwrights complete! Somehow it's taken 214/214 Wainwrights complete! 

Somehow it's taken 12 years, 8 months and 25 days since my first summit, Souther Fell, aged 14 (swipe for evidence). For those who don't know, the Wainwrights are a list of 214 summits created by legendary writer Alfred Wainwright. There was no better hill to finish than the aptly named 'Great Cockup', with a great crowd of friends.

The record is 5 days 12 hrs 14 mins... If only we hadn't stopped for a sandwich 😂 

Meanwhile @thehodfather666 is currently climbing all 214 with a 4 stone hod of house bricks, to raise money for @mindomountains.

However fast you go, there's something strangely addictive about this collection of fells. It's been a fun project to explore the Lakes and maybe one day I'll start again to see how fast I can get around... 

📸@danobeaumont

#GreatCockup #Wainwrights #LakeDistrict #Hillwalking  #GetOutside #Lakes #peakbagging #wainwrightswalks
A big welcome to the first CEO of @mindomountains, A big welcome to the first CEO of @mindomountains, Ian Sansbury! 

When Chris and I founded the charity in 2020 we never imagined how big it would become. From the flagship event with @adventureuncovered to delivering 27 events last year, supporting 300+ people with their mental health, including the NHS, Police and Ambulance Service.

Leadership is about creating a vision, and building a great team to achieve it - like our wonderful trustees, team and 50+ freelance staff who continually go above and beyond. 

It’s also knowing your strengths and weaknesses, when ironically it's compromised my own mental health sometimes too. As the charity grows I'm not the right person to take it where it needs to be, so it can reach everyone who needs our help.

Feeling like a proud parent sending their kids off to start school, with less crying, but I'm super excited to see the charity grow and support even more people with Ian’s expertise. 

I’ll remain heavily involved as a trustee (and Chief Interference Officer) to support the team, tell the story and raise money through daft adventures… 

Thanks to everyone who's been part of the first chapter. Onwards!

#NewChapter #MyBaby  #MentalHealthCharity #MindOverMountains
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