Another Step Up the Mountain

“Get ready for a journey of keen awareness of the opposites in life that often reside in the same space: being fragile yet strong, fearful but unafraid, broken yet healing, lost while discovering self. Filled with stories of adventure that helped one woman navigate heartbreaking loss, Another Step Up the Mountain teaches us how fragile life is, yet is a shining example of how fearlessly living life on the edge connects us with the world and our inner selves and, ultimately, leads to healing.” —Marshall Ulrich, adventurer and bestselling author of Running on Empty and Both Feet on the Ground “What a ride! In Another Step Up the Mountain, Dianette takes you to the top of the world and the depths of the soul as she reminds us every day is training day for the challenges, sorrow, boundless joy, and intense beauty that true adventure and the search for meaning and purpose bring. Biting wit and gallows humor combined with compassion and heart—Dianette and her story will help get you up and down any mountain.” —Kelly Chapman Meyer, founder of OneSun Farms “Adventure racing and climbing Everest gave me a real appreciation for Dianette’s mental tenacity and physical endurance. Another Step Up the Mountain is her personal spiritual journey that she willingly shares with us. Climbing the highest mountain in Antarctica with Johnny Strange, when he was twelve, and bumping into him at the North Pole years later gives me a unique perspective on him. We spoke of passion and risk, and how he wanted to live his life as fully as possible. With their shared ‘Life Wish’ ever present, Another Step Up the Mountain is truly a love story.” —Vern Tejas, mountain guide “No one I know has the courage to explore the world and the limits of herself. A must read!” —Gerald W. Abrams, executive producer “I really loved the book—so impressive! I am humbled. Another Step Up the Mountain beautifully illustrates the resilience with which Dianette approached each challenge in her life.” —Mary Gadams, founder of RacingThePlanet “Dianette’s life is rife with summits and valleys, and completing this book is a testament to living her truth—Another Step Up the Mountain.” —Laureen Nolan Sills, founder of Malibu Special Education Foundation “Dianette is a force of nature. Whether she’s climbing the highest mountains or tackling the massive challenge of writing a book, she tells her story of triumph and tragedy with style and courage. What a fantastic achievement.” —John Watkin, Emmy-winning producer/director “Dianette Wells is truly magical. I’ve seen her in action as a wonderful mother and friend. We can all learn from her tenacity, humanity, and endurance.” —Tara Sutphen, world-renowned hypnotherapist, psychic, author, and radio host “This is a must-read for any athlete mother who is torn between the desire to compete and the guilt that comes from leaving young children at home to race. “Dianette openly shares her struggle to be the perfect mom, ideal wife, and reliable teammate, and she invites us into her lived experience to find out whether being everything to everyone is even possible without losing yourself. She explores the highly controversial topic of what risks are acceptable for mothers and how those same pursuits are viewed so differently for fathers. “Not many will know the devastating loss of a child—and I don’t wish that for any mother—but if you do find yourself a member of our club, know that you too can survive the unthinkable. We will be remembering our children in the brightest shooting star above Mt. Kilimanjaro, the shimmer of a water droplet down a limestone cavern in the Grand Canyon, the tiny desert flowers on Mt. San Jacinto, the summit of every mountain we have climbed together, and appreciate each breath we take on this incredible planet with Johnny and Emory in our hearts.” —Tricia Middleton, Eco-Challenge race producer and mother to Aiden, Camryn, Emory and Nolan “Johnny Strange was my best friend, and the toughest, most determined person I’ve ever had the blessing to know. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized the type of mother it took to raise such a strong, determined, skilled individual. Dianette is the definition of strong, determined, and relentless. Describing Dianette as inspiring is a large understatement. She has experienced and endured more than most people could ever comprehend, and lives to tell about it.” —Trevor Jacob, Olympic snowboarder and entrepreneur “I have known Dianette since the early 2000s. We raced on a team in the adventure racing World Championships in Switzerland. I learned then how strong and how nurturing she was and was immediately impressed. Fast-forward almost twenty years and we teamed up again for the Eco Challenge in Fiji. Again, she was amazing to race with, strong and determined, and even nurtured me through hypothermia. “In Another Step Up the Mountain, Dianette candidly shares adversities that she faced while pursuing her passion for extreme sports. When her son tragically died in a wingsuiting accident, she withdrew until her enthusiasm for racing and mountaineering helped her through the loss. “It’s an incredible true story of adventure, adversity, challenges, coping with the loss of a son, and of how one can overcome the darkest moments in your life! A must read!” —Harald Zundel, professional adventure racer, United States Navy SEAL Officer (1994–1998) Lieutenant, SEAL Team Three “Another Step Up the Mountain has captured what life is like for extreme athlete Dianette Wells as she and her family look to max out life on the edge. Her children have followed along, ever entwined with all her adventures. Her son Johnny shared that same dream and passion and lived on that edge. Dianette shares her story of the highs and lows in the struggle to reach the summit of life. She inspires us all to never lose focus on that summit, even when it’s not always visible. She challenges you to leave hope behind and find the reality of success or failure. This journey will take you to some of the lows Dianette experienced and battled through in her life living on the edge, but one thing’s for certain: the only way to reach the tallest summit is to take Another Step Up the Mountain!” —Blain Reeves, US Army best ranger competition winner, Beast of the East Adventure Race solo champion, road cycling champion, ultra-marathoner, Eco Challenge 95, 96, 97, 19 “Dianette is fearless, tireless, relentless, demonstrating what can be achieved with her breathtaking accomplishments, and invites others to join and participate—changing lives by getting them to push past perceived barriers towards high adventure!” —Nicholas Kent, Julie Berk, entertainment marketing executive “Elite Mountaineer & TV star Dianette Wells’s new memoir, Another Step Up the Mountain, is now available and offers an in-depth look at her incredible journey. As one of the fewer than four hundred people to have climbed all Seven Summits, her adventures extend beyond the physical challenges to touching on profound personal resilience. With over thirty-two adventure races under her belt, many of which were televised, Dianette’s life story is a testament to overcoming literal and figurative mountains.” —MTB Lab