My name is Alexander Pancoe. In 2016, with zero mountaineering experience, I decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. At the time it was the hardest physical and mental challenge of my life. It was a life-changing moment when I stood on the roof of Africa and that was when my self-doubts disappeared. From then on I wanted to continue challenging myself to see what I was capable of and just how far I could push myself.
Over the following 3 years I devoted my life to pushing myself physically and mentally in some of the most dangerous environments to complete ‘The Explorers’ Grand Slam’. I’ve spent days stuck in my tent in -40 degree temperatures, burned over 10,000 calories in a single day on summit attempts, skied on thin polar ice with mere centimeters separating me from the arctic ocean, traversed glaciers with crevasses hundreds of feet deep, scaled mountains in “the death zone”, and had a near fatal accident while training in Aspen. I’ve had to survive in environments where being rescued is not something you can count on -- and even a small situation like losing a glove can lead to desperate situations.
While challenging myself around the world -- I’ve brought awareness and raised funds for Lurie Children’s Hospital -- specifically their pediatric brain tumor program -- where I myself was successfully treated for a brain tumor in 2005. I’ve dedicated each expedition to a current or former patient at Lurie Children’s and to date have raised almost $500,000. Giving back to Lurie’s has been one of the most gratifying accomplishments in my life.
Having completed the ‘Explorer’s Grand Slam’ My goal is to inspire people to find their Everest and to discover the passion and love I found for mountaineering and making a difference in the world.
Alexander Pancoe
Peaks of Mind