Sierra Journal

Mt. Everest to Get Cell Phone Coverage

Hi Mom. Guess what? I've got cerebral edema and I'm freezing to death. How's Dad?

That's right. The summit of Mt. Everest is about to be enveloped in a comforting shroud of cell coverage. So you can take the sat phone off your shopping list. That should knock a thousand bucks off the 50k price tag.  

Funny thing is I've gotten so used to cell coverage that I kind of expect it these days even when climbing and skiing. It's ubiquitous in Tahoe. And when I was on Mt. Shasta last weekend I got a call at high camp from a buddy in LA. Then called my gal to say good-night.

I'm not sure if this takes away from the experience or not. Frankly, I think I kinda like it. Is that weird?

Via Reuters:

A Nepali telecom firm plans to expand its mobile phone services to the top of Mount Everest, benefitting climbers on the world's highest mountain, a company official said on Thursday.

Hundreds of climbers, who go to the 8,850 meter (29,035 feet) Mount Everest every year, depend on expensive satellite phones to speak with their families as the remote Himalayan region does not have communication facilities.

"We are going to set up mobile towers in Thakdin, Manjo, Pheriche and Gorak Shep, which will bring the summit of Mount Everest within the network coverage," Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai, director of the satellite service wing of Nepal Telecom, said.

Sherpa Brothers to Spend 24 Hours on Mt. Everest Summit

Scaling Mt. Everest 16 times and breaking a speed record just wasn't enough. Pemba Dorje and his two brothers now not only want to scale it again, they also want to stay on the summit for 24 hours before heading down. That's nutso, but good luck to ya!

From the AP:

Between the three of them, the Sherpa brothers have climbed Mount Everest 16 times. The eldest raced up the world's highest mountain in eight hours and 10 minutes, the record for the fastest-ever ascent.

Now, the trio want to scale Everest together, and they aim to break the record for time spent at the summit, known as "the death zone," by staying at the 29,035-foot (8,850-meter) peak for 24 hours. Most climbers linger there for only a few minutes, just long enough to take a photograph from the top of the world.

"It is going to be difficult but I know we can do it," said Pemba Dorje, 31, the oldest brother. "I feel safer on the mountain trail than on the city streets."

*Photo Credit: Binod Joshi, Associated Press