Warner Rojas, a mountain climber and adventurer, wants people in Costa Rica to follow him to the Himalayas as he becomes the first Tico to plant the flag at the summit of the Everest. Starting on March 27, Warner will begin broadcasting his voyage and arduous climb online and on television thanks to an array of digital broadcasting tools he will be carrying along.
The special broadcast will begin even before Rojas sets foot in the Nepal mountain range. When he arrives in Kathmandu on Monday, March 26th, Teletica expects to broadcast updates on its Telenoticias news show at 7 pm and 11 pm each day.
A High-Tech Climb
According to La Nacion, Warner Rojas will travel to Nepal soon, taking with him the following gadgets:
- Portable computer
- Two iPhones
- Two high-definition Flip cameras
- A solar battery charger
- A few USB wireless broadband modems (known by Ticos as “datacards”)
Luis Ortiz, one of the journalists assigned to this unique project, explained to La Nacion that there are eight 3G wireless towers near the Everest that Warner will be able to connect to. Whenever Warner is within range of these towers, he will launch a Skype session to broadcast live. At other times, the portable computer Warner will allow him to take photos via its integrated web cam. Should Warner not be able to find a 3G signal, he will continue recording his climb and transmitting the output as time and conditions allow.
Warner has explained that the electronic gear he will be carrying weighs about a kilogram and a half, and that at times he will have to use his own body heat to ensure that the extreme cold weather does not damage the equipment. The expeditionary firm that is coordinating the climb, Jagged Globe, will be taking along an expensive camera that can serve as back up for Warner.
Live Tracking
Ticos can follow Warner as he climbs the Everest right on the web page of Teletica’s news show. Thanks to a satellite tracking device provided by NavSat, we can follow Warner and even have the opportunity to chat with him. The satellite device will also allow the Tico climber to send text messages and e-mail messages to Costa Rica.
In the past, The Costa Rica Star has written about how the vision of Tico venture capitalists is helping companies like NavSat get off the ground. Another Tico company, the Neo Solar Group, manufactures a device similar to the solar-powered charger that Warner will be carrying.