Mind Over Mountain: A Mental and Physical Climb to the Top

by Robbie Kojetin

Mind Over Mountain is a journey from the seat of a wheelchair to the summit of the highest mountain on Earth. A simple mistake at an indoor climbing gym sentenced 28-year-old Robby to a year in a wheelchair, shattering his aspirations of becoming a mountaineer. In the months that followed, Robby faced depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and a complete loss of a sense of his own identity.

But from somewhere deep inside him he summoned up the strength to keep going even when all seemed lost, and from there he went on to embark on a journey that would become a remarkable feat of mental and physical strength.

This story is more than a biography or an account of a mountaineering expedition – it’s a trip into hell and back, an awe-inspiring effort to chase the ultimate dream and rebuild a life worth living for.

200 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2020

Reviews

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of being part of the same Denali expedition as Robbie in 2025. Though our team ultimately got turned around by days of bad weather, I am so thankful for having had to opportunity to climb with him, learn from his experience and perspective, and share some laughs and tears - both of which Robbie is always good for! Thank you for sharing your inspirational story, your successes and failures, and your fears and dreams in these pages. Whether you climb mountains or not, I highly recommend Robbie's memoir.

[Lesley Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robby Kojetin’s life changed when he broke both ankles training in an indoor climbing gym. For years he dreamt of conquering Mt Everest, he was a mountaineer driven by excitement and success. He had climbed many of the highest mountains around the world. Now he was in a wheelchair. Sinking into the depth of despair this book is about how he pulled his life together again, and climbed to the summit of the ice-clad Alpamayo Peak (19,511ft / 5947m) part of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range in the Peruvian Andes. Not only is this an inspiring book, but all proceeds go to the Shaw Mind Foundation, a global charity that focuses entirely on mental health. Sadly, my copy had very small print, but despite that it is a 'must read' for anyone coping with trauma in their lives, large or small.