Listen to the call

A British climber has made the first telephone call from the top of Mount Everest, saying: "It's cold. It's fantastic. The Himalayas are everywhere."

Like buses, trains and supermarkets, the world's highest peak, unconquered until 1953, is now within the pale of mobile phone coverage thanks to a China Telecom mast installed at the base camp in Rongbuk, just 12 miles from the summit.

At 5.37am local time this morning (1.37 BST), Rod Baber became the first person to take advantage of the service to call home. He also sent a text.

“Hi. This is Rod. Making the world’s highest phone call on the 21st of May," he said, his voice thin and gasping from the lack of oxygen at 29,035ft (8848m). “I’ve got no idea what time it is."

After a moment of fumbling, his voice came back on the line and continued its message in short, staccato phrases. "It’s 5.37. It’s about -30. It’s cold. It’s fantastic. The Himalayas are everywhere. I can’t feel my toes. Everyone’s in good spirits. We got here in record time. It is amazing. I cannot wait to get back.”

Mr Baber, a 29-year-old adventurer who holds a string of climbing records and wants to reach the highest point in every country on earth, made the first call to a voicemail account set up by Motorola, the sponsors of the stunt. His second call was to his family and the third piece of communication was a text message, drafted by a Motorola employee before he reached the summit.

"One small text for man, one giant leap for mobilekind – thanks Motorola," it read.

Although Mr Baber's phone needed no special modifications to make the call, he had to carry its battery within his clothes to keep it warm enough to function. And, suggesting that Everest remains an inhospitable place for a conversation and certainly an exchange of text messages, a spokeswoman for Motorola said that Mr Baber had carefully prepared speed dials and a draft of his text before beginning the final ascent. He took a pointer to poke the phone's buttons so he could keep his gloves on.

"He didn't take his gloves off because otherwise he wouldn't have any fingers left," said a spokeswoman. "He literally had to press send and call."

Speaking at Everest Base Camp last week, Mr Baber said he was pleased to have a mobile phone with him and spoke of "the added confidence and peace of mind to know that friends, family and even help were just a phone call away". The president of Nepal’s Mountaineering Association, Ang Tsering Sherpa, also said that mobile phones could now be used to help rescue missions on the peak.

"It’s good news because communications are essential in the mountains where climbers face huge risks,” he said.

Mr Baber's call is one of several stunts planned for the current Everest climbing season, during which 550 people are expected to reach the summit. Last week Bear Grylls, a former British soldier, flew a powered paraglider over the top while Wim “Iceman” Hof, a Dutchman who claims to have a special ability to withstand the cold, is attempting to reach the top of the peak wearing just shorts, boots, gloves and a cap.

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