Topic Battle

Mount Everest has maintained its general configuration for approximately fifty million years, with the summit reaching its current approximate height roughly three million years ago. Geological projections suggest the mountain will continue standing for millions of years hence, gradually eroding at rates imperceptible to organisms with lifespans measured in decades.

The mountain has witnessed the entire arc of human evolution, from early hominids gazing at distant peaks to modern tourists photographing the summit with devices that will be obsolete before they return home. Everest will likely outlast not merely the iPhone but the entire concept of consumer electronics, remaining long after humanity has either achieved interstellar colonisation or succumbed to various self-inflicted catastrophes.

Mount Everest presents formidable accessibility challenges that would concern any customer experience manager. Reaching base camp requires either a ten-day trek through Nepal or a hazardous flight to Lukla, frequently cited among the world's most dangerous airports. The summit attempt itself demands sixty days of acclimatisation, climbing, and contemplating one's life choices at altitude.

Nepal charges $11,000 for a climbing permit alone, whilst guided expeditions typically cost between $30,000 and $100,000. The mountain refuses to offer payment plans, student discounts, or free returns. Approximately three hundred people summit annually, compared to the iPhone's 230 million units sold each year, suggesting room for improvement in the mountain's customer conversion funnel.

Mount Everest occupies a singular position in human consciousness, representing the ultimate terrestrial achievement. The mountain's name has become synonymous with the apex of any endeavour. Summiting Everest remains on countless bucket lists, discussed in hushed tones of reverence typically reserved for religious experiences or particularly good restaurant meals.

Those who reach the summit join an elite cohort of approximately 6,000 individuals across all history, a number smaller than the population of many villages. Sir Edmund Hillary's face graced New Zealand's five-dollar note. Tenzing Norgay became an international celebrity. No iPhone user has achieved comparable individual recognition for merely owning their device, regardless of storage capacity selected.

Mount Everest has transformed human understanding of both geographical possibility and personal limitation. The mountain's conquest in 1953 proved that no terrestrial height remained beyond human reach, fundamentally altering our species' conception of achievable goals. Everest has inspired countless mountaineers, adventurers, and motivational speakers charging appearance fees.

The mountain has also advanced scientific understanding of high-altitude physiology, extreme weather patterns, and the human body's response to oxygen deprivation. However, these contributions, whilst valuable, affect fewer individuals than the iPhone's daily influence on billions. Everest transforms those who engage with it directly; the iPhone transforms everyone regardless of engagement.

Mount Everest has maintained continuous operation for fifty million years without requiring firmware updates, security patches, or customer service interventions. The mountain's height varies by approximately four millimetres annually due to tectonic activity, a software update schedule that makes Apple's annual releases seem frantic by comparison.

Everest performs identically in all weather conditions, though the weather conditions themselves occasionally prove fatal to those attempting to interact with the mountain. The peak has never crashed, frozen unexpectedly, or displayed an error message suggesting users consult technical support. Its only operational quirk involves occasionally hiding behind clouds, which marketing consultants might describe as 'maintaining mystique'.