The Army’s Everest West Ridge expedition today goes live with one of the most advanced new media packages ever seen for an expedition of this kind. The expedition, which aims to put the first Briton on the summit of Everest via the treacherous West Ridge, is being supported with an impressive range of new media applications designed to give consumers up to date information, in real images and with real life stories from the mountain.

http://www.armyoneverest.mod.uk will feature footage from the three expedition teams as they make their attempts on three separate peaks in the Himalayas. Sent from base camp at the foot of Everest, the teams’ reports and updates will be made available online and through RSS, e-mail updates, mobile text alerts and video clips sent to Symbian handsets. Podcasts will tell the story of the climbers in their own words. Downloadable video clips of the teams in action will bring the attempt to life and blogs from the climbers will give an insight into the daily life of the soldiers. It is thought to be the first time an Everest climb has been made so accessible to the public.

For users wanting a more bird’s eye view of the attempt, the Army have used Google Earth to provide a step by step aerial view of their progress. Visitors to the site can navigate using Google Earth following the 3D map and enjoying specific content with 360° panoramic photos of each camp as they reach them and video footage from each location.

The site will also feature messages of good luck from high profile personalities including Tony Blair, General Sir Mike Jackson General Chief of Staff (Army) David Cameron, Simon Cowell, Davina McCall and celebrated mountaineers Sir Chris Bonington and Alan Hinkes.

The expedition teams are being followed by some of the world’s leading climber cameramen who will document the entire challenge for the world’s public. The team are currently nearing base camp and are set to summit some time in May 2006.

Planning for the attempt began in 2003 and training has been ongoing since then. To ensure success and safety the team have undergone extensive physical and psychological testing as well as mountain training, ice climbing, first aid, nutrition and education about the environmental and cultural impact of the climb.