Coming over the shoulder of Mt Blanc du Tacul.

Final stretch leading onto the summit

Mt Blanc summit, 4,807 m - the highest in Europe. Due to insufficient acclimatisation and fitness, the altitude hit me 200m below the summit. I suddenly felt very light-headed, almost asleep, and exhausted from the endless vertical stepping with very few breaks. My guide - to whom I was roped - refused to stop(!) so I twice had to sit and briefly refuse to move. The wind was gusting 60-70 km/h and the T was probably around -10C - fantastic conditions for Mt Blanc. Finally, I emerged from a haze of misery onto the summit.