Nepal, 12 December 2005. Western slope of the fifth highest peak on the planet. Altitude: 5300 meters. Jean-Christophe Lafaille readies himself to accomplish a new feat. At the threshold of the Himalayan winter, he begins acclimatizing himself to high altitude. In a few weeks, he will attempt what no other climber has achieved until now: The ascent of Makalu - 8463 meters – alone and without oxygen, during the winter season... The story blends impressions and viewpoints on the interval the climber spent from his arrival at the base camp to the final ascent attempt.