Out of Mind: Everest Avalanche and a Barefoot Running Recovery

by Joe French

In 2015, climber and documentary maker Joe French was about to fulfil a dream of a lifetime – to climb Everest and film it. Then tragedy struck and Joe found himself at the epicentre of an earthquake which killed nearly 9,000 people. Only a few years previously, his team of Sherpa had been killed in another avalanche, and soon after that, Julie, his wife, was diagnosed with cancer.The accumulation of trauma took its suffering from post-traumatic stress, Joe was haunted by the horrors he'd witnessed. In an attempt to find a resolution, he turned to his love of the outdoors. Running barefoot through the forests and glens around his house in Scotland, Joe discovered the means to find a return to health and peace of mind.

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2023

Reviews

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It takes you from the highlands of Scotland to the high altitudes of the Himalayas. It provides an amazing insight into the trials, tribulations and trauma of those attempting to summit Everest and the climbing community around it. I found it interesting, warm and in places very funny.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED this. It was obviously very therapeutic for Joe to write, and that introspection made it so much more than 'simply' a retelling of what had happened. Really powerful, human, moving and inspiring.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! It takes you on a thoughtful and reflective journey through the author’s Everest experiences, giving insight into his process of working through his trauma and moving forward.

[Stephen Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read about events that previously had little knowledge on. Well worth a read.