Everest by Elevator

Controversial plans to build an elevator up the inside of Mount Everest have been put on hold because of environmental concerns. The elevator, the second phase in a development which started with the construction of a small retail park halfway up the North Face, was due to be completed by 2016, in time for the opening of a multiplex and food court on the summit. However, engineers now have serious concerns that sinking a shaft through the centre of the mountain will result in serious structural problems.

After modelling the project using blancmange - which they believe provides a reasonable analogue of Everest's geology - experts have determined that the mountain does not contain enough sugar to prevent bits of it sliding back into the hole. Currently under consideration is a plan to provide additional support using wafers, but it may take some time to determine whether this is feasible. For the time being, mountaineers will still be able to use the escalator on the South Col.