This year on Everest, climbers could call home courtesy of the Chinese Army who had erected a mobile phone tower near base camp on the north, Tibetan side. The Chinese were doing a practice run for an Everest climb that will see Chinese climbers take the Olympic torch to the summit and back down again.
To make transportation easier the Chinese have started to improve, with plans to tarmac, the 67 mile dirt road to Everest base camp at 17,060 feet. Estimated cost, around $20 million. At the moment you can drive to base camp but it is a bumpy and uncomfortable drive. See this recent photo.......
Read more at
http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/ 
