 First Female Nepalese Mountaineering Instructor
Creating a New Path for Nepalese Women in Climbing.
By Michele Carlson, M.A.
It is rare in life that we get to meet a person who is a living testament to goal setting, perseverance, virtue, and inspiration. I have been lucky enough to have met one such person, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. At 5‘9?, Pasang is paving the way for future girls and ladies to dream big and have a path to fulfill those dreams in a predominately male sport. Her warm smile, patience, and sense of humor hide her inner strength, encouraging ways, and genuine spirit. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa is the first female mountaineering instructor from Nepal. She has summited Mt. Everest, a feat which few people can claim (by the end of the 2008 climbing season there were 4,102 ascents by 2,700 individuals). She is a true athlete and, more importantly, a caring person who wishes her actions to help the lives of others and create opportunity and acceptance for women in what has been a man‘s sport.
Pasang the Person; Her Story
Pasang grew up in a small remote village high in the Himalayan Mountains where culture and traditions are strong. She grew up with a love for adventure, nature, and of course, the mountains themselves. The environment within which she grew up drove her dreams of; a) being one of the few to summit Mount Everest, b) being the first female Nepalese mountaineering instructors, and c) paving the way for other Nepalese women and women worldwide to have the confidence and means to overcome obstacles and challenges. Pasang pursued her dreams despite great personal loss and rose to the challenge of taking on great responsibly at a young age. Pasang cared for her sister and oversaw their small family business while attending high school after her parents‘ passed away. She did not let these tragedies stop her from pursuing her education or her dreams of mountaineering. She faced much cultural resistance to her dreams (traditionally only males work as Sherpas or trekked up to mountain summits) as well as extreme physical challenges.
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is 29,028 feet (approximately 8848 meters). It is the highest mountain in the world. While it is not the technically most difficult mountain, Mt. Everest is the most popular peak for tourists from all around the globe to come and try to tackle. To give it some perspective, Mt. Everest is 8,709 feet (2654.4m) higher than Mt. McKinley (Denali) in Alaska. The average peak for trekkers in the Colorado Rockies is 14,000 feet. A large portion of peaks in the Himalayas are 22,000 feet.
Keep in mind, that all the hiking includes extreme physical and mental challenge as well as need for cooperation in order for group survival and success. Most mountaineering packs are 15 kilo –39 kilo (30 lbs –50 lbs), plus the weight of additional gear and adequate food/medical supplies –depending on the mountain elevations. At certain elevations and areas of climbing expeditions, all climbers are hooked in on a rope so that they can work together to ascend the mountain, and save each other if needed.
Generally 4-5 people die trying to ascend or descend from Mt. Everest every year. The task of attempting to Summit Everest has only been tried since 1922 There was a reconnaissance expedition in 1921 with a full scale attempt in 1922. The first successful round trip assent and descent was when Mt. Everest was by Edmond Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. The popularity of summiting Everest by more mountaineers has grown ever since. Anyone who has attempted, summited, and safely returned from Mt. Everest, has indeed completed a great feat.
Pasang Lhamu Sherpa’s Future Plans
Ms. Sherpa plans to teach others to become mountain instructors so more people may share in enjoying the mountains. She continues to help foster love of mountaineering and improved relationship between the US and Nepal. She hopes to bring climbers and instructors from the USA to Nepal to help teach other Nepalese women to climb, as well as give American women climbers the experience of a lifetime and making of great international friendships.
* Pasang also is signed up to row across the Atlantic ocean with a group a women in 2011 to further promote international cooperation in sports and women in sports.
Pasang is truly an inspiration for ladies everywhere and has further opened the door for Nepalese ladies to pursue mountaineering. In a nation well known for spiritual journeys, long held traditions, and colorful culture, one Sherpa has helped to bring the joys of mountain climbing into the realm of possibility for its women. Pasang broke into new territory by becoming the first female Nepalese Mountaineering Instructor, and went against the grain of her local cultural expectations by summiting Mt. Everest. However, she maintained (and still does) a great respect for the Nepalese and Sherpa cultures. She bent the rules enough to allow her to pursue her dreams, while still being a kind, respectful, and humble person. She has helped her community to see that women can dream big and accomplish daunting tasks.
Pasang is humble, generous, and perseverant. She‘s willing to work and wishes to share the beauty, awe, and power of the mountains with others. I am honored to have met her. A conqueror of Everest and the 21,000 foot first ascent of the Nangpai Gosum (said ?naang-pie-go-sum) mountain peak, and organizer of future expeditions for ladies world wide to pursue their dreams and live in confidence and harmony; Pasang will yet do much more to help countless young ladies from around the world find the strength in themselves and each other so that working together any mountain can be climbed, and challenge met, and the bonds of friendship can be made. Pasang is truly a gift to the world of mountaineering.
Pasang will be giving a talk at Tibet‘s Restaurant in Louisville, CO. To arrange a speaking engagement for your business, school, or group, please contact Ms. Sherpa at pasanglhamusherpa@gmail.com. Please email her if you wish to donate support for the upcoming 2011 International All Women‘s Expedition. You can arrange to trek in Nepal with Pasang Lhamu Sherpa through Sherpas Ascent International (www.SherpasAscentInternational.org).
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