My wife is afraid of heights and we are wanting to do the TMB in August. She is afraid of the suspension bridge between les Houches and les Contamines, although she will try them. She absolutely won't do the ladder section. Are there any other areas where a fear of heights could stop a person from continuning the trail?

The suspension bridge is a variant and may be avoided so that will not present a problem. Quite right to avoid the ladder section. I have a mild fear of heights myself so I can emphasise. There are other sections that have significant drops to one side of the path - but they're quite safe and if you're hiking with walking poles your wife will feel much safer. When walking such sections myself I knew that there would be no chance of tripping or falling and with a pole between me and the drop it was a little like having a travelling hand rail to assist me. The 'more exciting' sections are well into the trail, which I think helps. I found that by that time I'd grown so use to the odd drop that anything more significant had less effect on me.

There is a short scramble and a ladder between Col du Brevent and the Brevent cable car platform. There is also a very short ladder on the way to Lac Blanc, but again, it can easily be be avoided. I don't think anyone would have a problem with these ladders, but at least you won't be surprised.

Hi - same here - not too good around heights. Some of the pictures with drops on one side look a lot more challenging - mentally - than the ladders do for someone with fear of heights - has anyone here experienced those?
Thanks!

I found that we gradually got trailed hardened as we hiked so what what may have looked daunting from the comfort of our living room became quite matter of fact whilst on the trial. I suspect the greatest concern when walking with a drop to one side was the possibility of stumbling, especially with a rucksacks to unbalance us. The walking poles removed that concern though - it was like walking with a moving handrail to one side and felt quite safe.