Nepalmountainnews Report | 5 May 2008
Aasha Kumari Singh, Chunu Shrestha, Maya Gurung, Nawang Phuti Sherpa, Nima Doma Sherpa, Pema Diki Sherpa, Pujan Acharya, Shailee Basnet, Sushmita Maskey and Usha Bista.
They are the 10 members of 'First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition (FIWSE)- 2008' team, who are planning to climb Everest this Spring season.
FIWSE is the first-of-its-kind expedition comprising of only Nepalese women from various ethnic and geographic backgrounds.
Aasha is from Terai and wants to convey the message that Terai women can also climb Everest.
So does Usha Bista who hails from Kailali.
Maya Gurung is in the race of becoming the first woman from Gurung community -and Sindhupalchowk- to summit Everest and so is Pujan Acharya of Dolakha.
Sushmita Maskey on the other hand is determined to wrap things up on Everest once and for all having had a bitter experience of returning from Hillary Step, only 48 meters from top, in 2005.
Similarly Chunu Shrestha, Shailee Basnet, Yangdi Sherpa and Pasang Lhamu Sherpa each have a dream of making atop Everest this year.
For the last couple of months, the team members underwent close camp training in Himalayan regions including Langtang and Everest before leaving for the summit in mid-April.
Further setting a historic record in itself, FIWSE holds a very noble objective - to encourage more women in mountaineering, support the cause of women empowerment and raise issues about climate change.
Moreover, the team will also be unfurling a banner with logo of 'Global Call for Action on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women' in tune with Millennium Development Goals, which will be a symbol of empowerment of all women throughout the world.
The role of Nepalese women in mountaineering and climbing has come a long way ever since it really got momentum in the early 80s.
The scenario prior to that is not accountable. Once when noted mountaineering historian Elizabeth Hawley asked The First Woman's Summit on Everest Expedition in 1975 why there was no Nepali woman, the expedition leader told her that she could fine none.
The first meaningful and daring feat for Nepalese women that they could also climb a mountain came in 1984.
That year Nimmi Sherpa made a successful ascent of Nuptse (7865m) and became the first woman to climb a mountain above 7000m.
Nimmi is still the only woman to summit Nuptse. Between 1984 and 1992, numerous attempts were made by Nepalese women to conquer Everest but to no avail.
The historic and high-profile break for Nepalese women in mountaineering came on 22 April 1993 when Late Pasang Lhamu Sherpa made it to the summit.
Late Pasang Lhamu had so much determination and desire to reach to the top that it was only in her fourth attempt that she finally succeeded.
The same season Nimmi Sherpa also climbed Everest as a member of Indian Women's Expedition, just a few days after Pasang's feat.
Ever since that year many Nepalese women have already summit Everest demonstrating their skill and will in mountaineering.
Earlier an all-female team including 4 Sherpa women launched Millenium Everest Expedition in 2000.
Lhakpa Sherpa is the first female to scale Everest six times, setting a world record.
So is her sister Ming Kipa Sherpa, who is supposed to be the youngest to climb Everest in 2003.
And together with their brother, they made a family record of climbing simultaneously.
Maya Shepa is another daring and courageous Sherpa woman who has claimed Everest.
Late Pemba Dolma Sherpa is the only Nepali woman to climb Everest from both sides.
Likewise, Moni Mulepati became the first Newari woman to climb Everest in 2003 and set a world record by marrying with fellow Pem Dorje Sherpa at the top of Everest.
If we go through past records, except Moni Mulepati all women summiteers of Everest are Sherpa women- none from other ethnic backgrounds have ever scaled Everest.
Moreover only seven Nepali women have climbed Everest thus far.
This shows not just very few women are involved in mountaineering; it is also an indication of absence of motivation and encouragement among women to lead.
Compared to men there obviously are very few women working as mountaineering guide and high altitude leader.
It is of very recent phenomenon that women have also started working as trekking guide much less as mountain leader.
Six times Everest summiteers Lakpa was once quoted as saying, " I do not make excuses for being a woman even though I was born in a strongly male-dominated society which is a handicap….I think every woman should do her best to spread the popularity of mountaineering. Taking on tougher routes and mountains will definitely change that 'woman' image. Showing we can do what men do is the best thing women can do to equalize the sport. We should make it a sport for everyone."
Many believe that Late Pasang Lhamu single-handedly succeeded in getting the needed recognition for mountaineering at home that no other preceding male had ever done before.
In fact no mountaineers (male climbers included) had ever garnered and aroused so much interest among Nepalis about mountaineering as the victory and death of Pasang Lhamu did in 1993.
Many analysts have credited Pasang of not only elevating the popularity of mountaineering to the greatest height possible among Nepali audience, but have also labeled her as a shrewd manager when it came to diplomacy.
Perhaps the First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition is a milestone occasion on the same line but with greater issues of inclusiveness, cooperation and a greater Nepal.
The success of expedition can further help promote leadership and active role that Nepalese women should play not only in mountaineering and tourism but in every sphere of nation's economic and social activity.
Moreover, it can instill hope and energy in women from all the ethnic backgrounds to work collectively and in cooperation in a new and inclusive Nepal.
Women empowerment is one of the widely discussed issues in tourism. World Tourism Organization, one of the specialized agencies of UN, observed the year 2007 with the slogan 'Tourism Opens Doors for Women'. Indeed tourism is probably the only area where women have proved their mettle and have been inspirational leaders. And given enough opportunity and leverage, women are sure to become leaders in mountaineering and work shoulder to shoulder wit their male counterpart in the days to come.
By Raman Grandon/KTM Post daily
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