Valerio Massimo Everest Expedition 2009

Approaching the Yellow Band and Geneva Spur with Everest's summit pyramid beyond - 20 May

Climbing the Yellow Band at 7,800 meters between Camps 3 and 4 - 20 May

The summit pyramid with the South Summit at its apex as seen from the tents on the South Col - evening of 20 May

The South Col at sunset with Cho Oyu in the distance - evening of 20 May

Sunrise breaks just below the South Summit - 21 May

Looking down the South East Ridge at dawn - below right is the South Col and top right Camp 4 - 21 May

Everest casts its shadow over Nepal shortly after dawn from just below the South Summit - 21 May

Me reaching the South Summit, arm aloft, at 8,750 meters - 5.30am, 21 May

Me on the South Summit, with a blanket of clouds below - 21 May

Everest summit ridge from South Summit - 21 May

Team-mate Moises Nava Falcon and two Sherpas tackle the Hillary Step - 06.30am, 21 May

Me stepping onto the summit of Everest - 7.14am, 21 May 2009

On the summit holding a picture of Alix and me - again note the clearly visible curvature of the earth on the horizon behind me - 21 May

Crouching on the roof of the world, with a freezing face and frozen condensation down the zip of my suit, looking down the North side into Tibet - 21 May

Makalu from the summit - note again the clear curvature of the earth as you look at the horizon - 21 May

Prayer flags and a figure of Buddha on the summit of Everest - 21 May

Self portrait on the South Summit on the descent - note the reflection of the main summit in my goggles

A view of the steep descent to the South Col from the Balcony - 21 May

A body lies right beside the route, just above the South Col - 21 May

Arrivng exhasuted at Camp 2 at the end of a long summit day - 6.30pm, 21 May

Alix meeting me at crampon point as I left the Icefall for the last time - off the mountain and safe at last - 23 May