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10-K
10-29-2010, 11:04
A sign of the times....

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/10/29/130910827/now-official-internet-is-everywhere-3g-network-now-covers-mt-everest

I wonder if you could arrange a shuttle from there?

ChinMusic
10-29-2010, 12:22
I wonder if you could arrange a shuttle from there?
LOL

I was going to post this info. Glad I saw your thread first.

Maybe LW will get a cell phone now..........:cool:

Pedaling Fool
10-29-2010, 14:18
Well we are in the Kali Yuga -- The Age of Iron (The most evil of all).

waywardfool
10-29-2010, 15:44
It wasn't that many years ago that they made a big deal of the first live TV broadcast from Everest...I remember staying up to watch it, just because.

Now Joe Blow can do it from his cell phone. Times are changing too fast.

waywardfool
10-29-2010, 15:47
Just looked it up...May 21, 2003.

TheChop
10-29-2010, 16:12
Everest just jumped the shark!

GracefulRoll
10-29-2010, 17:23
ChatRoulette just got even more interesting.

"Where are you?"

"Base camp at Mount Everest."

"No, seriously, where?"

At this stage, take web cam outside. Blow minds.

Pedaling Fool
10-30-2010, 09:51
It does make you wonder why people think this is a neat feat. Why does someone feel the need to make a phone call from the top of Everest? There is something to us becoming materialistic (note: when I say us, I don’t mean just us Americans, this "need" is quickly spreading throughout the world). It’s not just America that has outsourced to China; practically the whole world has, all for cheap "needs".

Look at all the stuff people carry on the trail nowadays, it’s all technology to keep in contact with the world. No one seems capable of tuning out anymore. Even the people that advertise themselves as being environmentally friendly feel the need to have this technology.

Our needs seem to be increasing. It’s not just food, water, shelter anymore. It’s everything from high-tech gadgetry to arch supports in our high tech footwear.

Actually our needs seem to be wants and our wants seem to be needs.

10-K
10-30-2010, 10:29
I think it started when a Neanderthal's wife looked out of the cave and said, "Hey, look - the neighbor has a wheel!" So, they got a wheel but then the neighbor got a log and another wheel and made a 2 wheel job with an axle.

It's been going downhill (or uphill, depending on your inclination) ever since - we're just now hitting critical mass.



It does make you wonder why people think this is a neat feat. Why does someone feel the need to make a phone call from the top of Everest? There is something to us becoming materialistic (note: when I say us, I don’t mean just us Americans, this "need" is quickly spreading throughout the world). It’s not just America that has outsourced to China; practically the whole world has, all for cheap "needs".

Look at all the stuff people carry on the trail nowadays, it’s all technology to keep in contact with the world. No one seems capable of tuning out anymore. Even the people that advertise themselves as being environmentally friendly feel the need to have this technology.

Our needs seem to be increasing. It’s not just food, water, shelter anymore. It’s everything from high-tech gadgetry to arch supports in our high tech footwear.

Actually our needs seem to be wants and our wants seem to be needs.

Jonnycat
10-30-2010, 14:38
Look at all the stuff people carry on the trail nowadays, it’s all technology to keep in contact with the world.

More like keep in contact with the artificial world, but yes.

On one of the radio shows I listen to (Performance Today), the host, in one episode, called a voicemail to record a message from the summit of Mt. Rainier. I couldn't help but think about how he completely missed out on the experience of climbing a mountain like Rainier, being so preoccupied with his technological language link to society.

Such is the world we live in.

GracefulRoll
10-30-2010, 14:52
It's kind of sad. Whenever I go on the trail, the radio for my cell service is switched 'off' to save battery in case of emergency (my only use for it on the trail) and to help me get off of the grid in a way.

I invited a friend to go camping for a weekend and he truly did not like thinking about being taken away from the internet. :/ He didn't think he could have fun with a campfire, beer, and people.

Bummer, it is, because I forget the internet exists. I like it that way. I don't even turn on the television most days.

mweinstone
10-30-2010, 21:13
upright walking man. man walks on moon.walkers 3g on everest. tensing? tensing would you be sure to bring me a shot of the moon? no prob sweets. oh tensing, im so glad you and edmund werent summiting in a time of no good communications. i love you tensing. love ya sweets. put edmond on. sure. by. say good night to the kids. yo ed..... my wife wants ya. yeah? mrs norkay? whats up?......um...hey ed....hows the summit of that bitch? .....great. okay. sooo.....see you guys in a few weeks? yup. by. ......by...

yo! saheb? tea?

mweinstone
10-30-2010, 21:26
saheb?....saheb wake up it is number 1.....your midnight tea saheb so you hike strong......ahhhhhh,....your the best number one,.....will you eat dahl saheb? ....yes dahl.....thank you.......saheb?..yes number one?......i have sinned. .....what ? .....i was looking at porn on the summit useing the 3g network witch is so readily available now on chomolonga..........so,..is that against some rule your wife has?...........yes.............wow. i feel ya. ummm.....lets do some oxygen so we can think and then call her and we can have a 3 way call and straighten everything out. .....thanks bro.......no worrys. thank god for this new 3 g thing.......dont i know it. sheeewwww....this is gonna mean alot of drunken knights to forget. ....feel ya one. .......here.....hold it in.

uberart
10-30-2010, 21:28
Climbers base camp is 17,500ft on the nepal side. So its not. For a shuttle they can land a helicopter not so far away. They make a couple of trips a day in high season for all the hikers with altitude sickness and the climbers with frostbite.


I met a man from Kathmandu who was supposed to do maintenance on the cell service. So I think they have had service for years. The repair man wasn't going to make it though, too soft and citified, thought he could make it in 3 days, when you need around 7 days.

Dogwood
10-31-2010, 02:41
Despite the benefits that cell phone coverage atop Mt Everest MIGHT entail, it's just another reason why I have no desire to climb/hike Mt Everest. Can you imagine the expected solitude and awe one might expect atop Mt Everest, after having done a walk up daisy chain your way to the top in single file parade like fashion, only to experience several wealthy International Yuppie types talking on their cell phones at the same time with the attitude, see I told you how hardcore and wonderful I am, can't wait to tell the world of what I did and they didn't. "Yo Yo Yo guess where I'm at right now? YEAH, atop Mt Everest!" (of course, in various languages). At that point I would probably turn off their oxygen supply.

Sorry, summitting Mt Everest is a great feat. Shouldn't rag on it. I have not done it so I really have no right to be condescending. It's just that I've met more than one summitter who is the adventurous wealthy chip-on-the-shoulder I am ruler of the world types who like to hang pictures of themselves with a sherpa atop Mt Everest high up on their oak paneled office walls behind their desks so that everyone has to notice it. In some circles summitting Mt Everest has somewhat become THE thing to accomplish for the most bragadocious adventurous wealthy types.

Torch09
10-31-2010, 07:22
I doubt too many electronics can survive those temperatures, though.

Torch09
10-31-2010, 07:40
Dogwood, I'm with you on this one.

It doesn't have the same significance that it once had. Too many people have climbed it so its almost not a challenge anymore. I don't use this word often, but Everest is kind of a whore, as far as mountains go.

This reminds me of the time I was on Mt. Washington and a lady was asking me why I had such a large backpack. "Because I hiked up here," I said. Her response? "Why? Don't you know there's a road?"

I can't wait 'til I can drive up Everest and buy a slice of pizza :rolleyes:

mweinstone
10-31-2010, 09:07
ive drempt of everest since birth. ill climb that sucker on a bike if it had a path. ill do it with or with out o2. and with or without a guided tour of dozens of semi climbers. i will stab at the chance to visit everests toenail from the cold dark depths of space james t kirk. E V E R E S T!!!!!!
ever been compelled to make the slopes of everest and all the glaciers in a bowel of ice cream since birth? complete with malory falling? i have. i walk up and down and around that puppy in my mind alot. love the death zone and the final wall. man thats the best mountain.
and to give your kids a call from the moon or everest is as cool as cucumbers . and to care what silly things men do is silly. we are silly based. its how we do stuff. we build worldwide systems just to call from everest if we want.