Army website shows progress of Himalaya expeditions

People can watch and listen to the progress of three Army mountaineering teams online as each sets out to conquer a different peak in the Himalayas.

The expeditions are making use of media applications such as podcasts, blogs and video clips. These will give the public up-to-date information, images and reports from the teams.

The main team is made up of some of the Army's most experienced mountaineers who will attempt an assault on Everest via the notoriously difficult West Ridge.

They will be accompanied by two cameramen from Sky news, both with mountaineering experience, who will attempt to climb as far as they can with the main team.

The Development team, made up of service personnel either in the early or middle stages of their military careers are intermediate mountaineers. They will climb the nearby Lhakpa Ri peak.

The Junior Team are soldiers at the beginning of their careers who will attempt to climb the Himalayas' 6,250m Island Peak; the very mountain which Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay used to prepare for their successful summiting of Everest in 1953.

Reports and updates on the progress of each team will be sent daily from base camp at the foot of Everest. These will be available online on the website or via RSS or email updates.

People who have Symbian phones can sign up to receive mobile text alerts and video clips on their handsets.

For those who'd like a bird’s eye view of the attempt, the Army is using Google Earth.

Visitors to the site can download the software and use Google Earth to see 3D maps and 360° panoramic photos of each camp as the teams reach, as well as video footage from each location.

All the teams are expected to have completed their challenge and be back in the UK by the end of May.