December’s image was taken at around 5 am on 30th August 2024, half way through an ascent of Mount Kazbek (5054 m), one of the tallest mountains in Europe. Located in the Greater Caucasus range, the summit is on the border between Georgia and Russia. As part of an 11-man team, I spent several days on the Georgian side of the mountain, acclimatising and learning glacier travel skills. December’s image shows a team of Russian mountaineers approaching from the north with the peak of Mount Dzhimara illuminated by alpenglow beyond.