Standing on the Roof of Africa

BY MEGAN MONTEMARANO

"I'm sittin' on top of Kilimanjaro, I can see a new tomorrow. I'm sittin' on top of Kilimanjaro. I cast away all my sorrows."

These familiar lyrics sung by the famous South African band Juluka, couldn’t ring any truer for Bergen County resident John Ebanietti, who recently achieved the extraordinary feat of climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Standing at a mighty 19,341 feet above sea level and about 16,100 feet above its plateau base, this volcanic hiking destination is awe-inspiring.

"The mountain is a place for vision, inspiration and a new beginning," comments Ebanietti. "And when you hit the peak, you immediately realize what once seemed impossible in your life might just be doable."

Ebanietti grew up in Pearl River, N.Y. before eventually moving to Mahwah with his wife, Lori, and two daughters, Arielle and Blaise. As a wealth advisor at a bank, he often looked to adventure and “the Great Outdoors” as an outlet away from his desk job.

“I always seek opportunities to test myself both physically and mentally, especially in nature. Nature presents unthinkable volumes of unknowns and chances to fail and succeed, which motivate me to take on new challenges.”

This motivation was certainly put to the test during his latest endeavor - to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, despite the harsh weather conditions and staggering altitudes. Ebanietti chose to take the Northern Circuit along with another hiker from Amsterdam and guides. This is not only the newest route, but also the longest. Traversing the quieter northern slopes of the mountain, it took the group

Their days typically began at sunrise with a very light breakfast. Because Ebanietti is a pescatarian, his food options were limited, which, combined with the arduous activity, contributed to his 14-pound weight loss over the course of the journey. They averaged half of the trip, the bulk of which they covered in the mornings, saving recovery periods for after lunch.

"We would usually set up camp at around 3 p.m., followed by a brief nap, and then dinner at 5:30 p.m. We'd always make sure to be in our tents by 6:30 p.m. so we'd be energized and ready for the next day."

As they ascended to higher altitudes above 13,000 feet later on in the trip, they dialed back their daily mileage due to the thin air and increasingly adverse weather conditions.

Training for such a journey requires rigorous workouts and dedication.

"No one climbs Kilimanjaro by heart alone (physically or metaphorically),"explains Ebanietti. "We use our legs to get to the top, so making sure my legs were strong was key."

Kilimanjaro climbs include six-to-eight-hour days of ascending hikes for eight days, followed by a very long descent. In knowing this, Ebanietti set aside two sessions per week for leg strength training. He

Continued on page 34 also understood the importance of diversifying his workouts to include back, chest and arms, ensuring all his muscles were toned and ready to go - especially given the 35-pound backpack he would be carrying during the trek. Weight training, coupled with hikes up in the Ramapo Reservation and mountains in Arizona near the Ebanietti family's winter home, supplemented his preparation for the climb.

Despite his intense training regiment, Ebanietti still faced numerous challenges, including frigid rocky camps, lack of sleep, minor frost bite, freezing hydra- journey was not easy, but it was well worth it. Ebanietti hit the peak of the mountain on Aug. 29, 2022 and then made it home to his wife in time for their 31st wedding anniversary on Sept.1 to enjoy a double celebration.

"Be prepared and do not take the climb lightly" is the advice Ebanietti would give to others thinking about embarking on a similar journey. He also shared a few valuable life lessons gained along the way - "go slowly, being tired is not an illness, don't let tough situations wear you down, and, perhaps most importantly, remember that fear is a good thing."

"Reaching the summit was one of the best experiences of my life. All the training and hard work stand on the roof of Africa and see the world a different way."

Already thinking ahead, Ebanietti hopes to target Peru's Machu Picchu as his next adventure.

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