Me on route to the Everest camp in 2001, my first great dream of adventure realized. Picture: Publication

Since I returned from Mt. Everest in 2001, I have searched for other destinations that could provide me another voyage of transformation. The destinations I considered included Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. Aconcagua, the tallest peak in the Americas. Gorilla Mountains in the Congo. Vietnam and Cambodia. Antarctica. The North Pole... Interesting places, aren't they?

The Everest Base Camp trekking experience was spectacular, and I have no doubt that it changed my life. After my return I changed my way of thinking and my way of life, I changed my plans, I set above average goals, I started to work on my solo flight project and I created a lecture about MY EVEREST, which has become a success. I estimate that in the last five years I must have presented it around 150 times to various audiences all around the country. The book by the same name was very successful; it is in its fifth edition and still selling. The most important thing was the realization that I could do anything I wanted with my life. I discuss all of this in my book and in my web site WWW.omeueverest.com.

I was incurably infected by the adventure bug.

In 2006 I managed to go to Aconcagua, on a trip riddled with accidents, which prevented me from reaching the roof of the Americas. But it was worth every step.