Can you imagine lugging a 40 pound backpack up Everest?

Last March and April, shortly before the avalanche that claimed the lives of 16 high-altitude workers on Mount Everest, a team from Google was trekking around Nepal’s Khumbu region in hopes of making the most detailed map of the area to date, an approach they're using across the planet. The group of 16 included engineers and international development specialists, and was led on the ground by Apa Sherpa, the legendary mountaineer who’s summitted Everest 21 times.

Google published more than 45,000 panoramas to create this interactive Street View experience, which is available today. Hauling the Street View Trekker—a 40-pound, GPS-enabled external frame pack with a spherical 15-camera, omnidirectional “eye” that protrudes a foot above the hiker’s head—the team captured all 38 miles from the town of Lukla to Everest Base Camp. They also side-tripped up the Bhote Kosi River to the town of Thame, home of the Thame Dechen Chokhorling Monastery, which overlooks the village.

Not bad!

Beautiful video

I concur. Nice job, Google!