A Kendal adventurer has set himself the challenge of climbing every mountain in England and Wales in under 50 days.
Alex Staniforth will raise vital funds to support young people’s mental health.
Alex is aiming to raise at least £100,000 for Mind Over Mountains – a charity he co-founded in 2020, which delivers professionally supported outdoor walking experiences to restore and sustain mental wellbeing.
The funds will allow the charity to expand into Scotland by 2026 and enable 1,000 people to attend guided walks and retreats, combining mountain walking, mindfulness, and one-to-one coaching and counselling.
Launching on May 16, the 446 Challenge marks the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Nepal earthquake, where Alex survived being stranded on Mount Everest while three of his Sherpa teammates died at Base Camp.
The challenge also coincides with Alex’s 30th birthday.
He said: “I want to show that no mountain is insurmountable. Too many young people, especially young men, struggle to find their way and may never reach life’s milestones. This challenge is my way of creating hope, breaking down stigma, and showing what we can achieve when we keep moving forward.”
The 446 Challenge is unique. While adventurer James Forrest previously climbed all 446 summits within a record time of six months while holding down a full-time job, nobody has attempted to summit all 446 Nuttalls in the UK (peaks over 610m with at least 15m prominence) in a continuous, human-powered push.
Alex will run or cycle more than 2,900km with a total ascent of 86,000m – the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest almost 10 times.
He will travel entirely by foot and bike, supported by a motorhome crew but without vehicle assistance between peaks. Each night, he will sleep in the motorhome before continuing on with his challenge.
The route begins in Dartmoor in Devon, and winds through Somerset, Bristol, and into Wales. Alex will continue through Cheshire and Greater Manchester, before traversing the Pennines from Derbyshire and the Peak District, through the Yorkshire Dales, to Cumbria, Northumberland and the Scottish Borders before looping back to conclude the challenge in the Lake District.
Alex is undertaking intensive training for the challenge, including running across the fells weekly, alongside cycling and strength conditioning. Recent milestones include finishing second in the Grizedale Marathon.
Several corporate sponsors have already been secured to support the challenge, including Jordan’s Motor Group, Swyft Home, Inov-8, Ellis Brigham, VOOM Nutrition, and COROS. More sponsors are being sought to support the challenge and help raise vital funds for the Mind Over Mountains Charity.
People can get involved by donating, following the journey online, or joining Alex at selected points along the route.
A free app with a live tracking map is available to download on Google and Apple which will also allow supporters to follow Alex’s progress as he travels across the country.
Alex’s full route from Devon to the Lake District can also be found on Komoot.
Businesses and organisations can sponsor the challenge as a major partner or sponsor one of the 446 peaks for £500.
