For as long as I can remember, I have been transfixed with the stories accompanying each Everest season. Originally reading about the expeditions in books, the Internet and blogs helped make individual stories available to the masses. Now, with cell phone coverage at basecamp and advanced satellite network technology, multi-media expedition updates can be published almost instantly.
To follow details of the Everest 2012 season and experience the climb from the comfort of your couch, here are a few places to turn for regular and often real time updates :
Kenton Cool
British guide Kenton Cool has been to the top of the world 9 times, even twice in one season. This year with his 10th summit, he is hoping to fulfill the pledge of the 1922 British Everest Expedition to bring the gold medal they received at the 1924 Winter Olympics to the top of the world.
Outside
Senior Editor Grayson Schaffer has planted himself at Everest basecamp, filing daily reports online. You can follow all the Everest stories, controversies, and latest news from the mountain, including the recent death of a Sherpa guide from a crevasse fall while not clipped into the safety ropes
National Geographic
The Nat Geo team is looking to repeat the historic climb of the 1963 National Geographic-sponsored American Mount Everest Expedition. Conrad Anker and Cory Richards will attempt the West Ridge route, while a second team, with additional climbers from The North Face and National Geographic writer Mark Jenkins, will take on the mountain’s classic Southeast Ridge. An iPad app features daily coverage of both the expeditions, including exclusive content not available on the main site.
Eddie Bauer/RMI Guides
Follow RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Melissa Arnot as they attempt the Southeast Ridge. If successful, this will be Dave's 14th summit and Melissa's 4th, both beating their records of last year.
Alan Arnette
Every year, Alan reports the news from all the climbing teams on both the North and South side of Everest. You can gather a pretty good general overview of all the current happenings over on his site, including locations of each team on the mountain, summit plans, and interviews with climbers.
Mayo Clinic
For those more scientifically inclined, you can follow the Mayo Clinic researchers traveling along with the Nat Geo team. To help better understand the effects of heart disease, the Mayo Clinic team will conduct tests on the oxygen starved climbers including sleep, muscle loss, lung fluid regulation, and remote monitoring.
Twitter- plenty of climbers are tweeting live updates from Everest. Here are a few to follow:
@mattdthornton, @Ian8850, @KentonCool, @Andy_Bardon, @bookofsamuel, @emilyaharringto, @AdvConsultants, @eightsummits, @molliejhughes, and hashtag #OnEverest
