Mont Blanc: July 1992 Poem by Sheena Blackhall

It's not just any old hill walk
You can't turn up in a pair of old boots,
A rain coat and sun glasses

You'll need a long handle ice axe,
Harness, carabineers and crampons

You'll need layers of clothes to protect you
The weather holds extremes of cold and wind

You'll need be very fit
You'll need to know how to use an ice axe,
Crampons, ropes,
You'll need to keep an eye out on the weather

In the case of fatigue, bad weather, accident
Hypothermiaquickly sets in

You'll need to watch out for
Frostbite at fingers, toes, face, cornea

The summit of Mont Blanc,
Can be -30°Cwith a 60 km/h wind.

Your lungs will be screaming for air
Your head pounding
Your legs will feel like jelly

But at the summit,
You're eye level with the clouds
Is it all worth it? Yes!