Beckham On Everest...

A quick reminder that you can follow the progress of British climber Leo Houlding on Everest as he plays the part of Sandy Irvine in a documentary being made on the mountain.

Houlding is best known for his rock climbing and big wall exploits, so it's a tad unexpected to find him on the world's highest mountain with the team's progress splashed across a regularly updated, all-singing, all-dancing web site.

Some interesting comments from Leo on the approach to the mountain where he acknowledged that despite coming from a climbing culture where Everest is often viewed as something of a high altitude ramble, he was impressed by the sheer size and steepness of the thing and volunteered respect for anyone who'd climbed it.

The team's had its own puja ceremony where climbers and their equipment are blessed, but the latest news is that Leo and Conrad Anker, who's playing Mallory in the drama documentary, have been down to the Rongbuk Monastery below basecamp to see the site of Mallory and Irvine's puja ceremony.

In climbing terms, the team has been acclimatising gently with ascents of minor high points easing their bodies into shape to cope with the thin air. Meanwhile, Leo has been wrestling with decisions like whether to use strap-on or step-in crampons - you'll be glad to know he also has electronic footwarmers for his boots.

There's also footage of the climbers' memorials below the mountain, a real reminder of the dangers the team face.

Last but not least, ex-pat British climber Kevin Thaw is carrying a David Beckham doll as a mascot on the trip - that's him above, the small one. Apparently David is excited to be moving up the mountain...

More diverting information at www.ueverest.com. For general Everest news, see www.everestnews.com.