Maya Sherpa first Nepali woman to scale Himlung Himal

KATHMANDU: Maya Sherpa, the only Nepali woman who successfully climbed Mt Everest from Nepal side in the last spring season, now has added one more feather on her cap.

Sherpa successfully stood atop Himlung Himal (7,126 m) in the fall season becoming the first Nepali woman to climb the peak of the Manaslu Himalaya range in western Nepal last week, according to expedition organisers.

“As many as 14 climbers including eight Nepalis climbed the peak on November 3,” Mingma Sherpa, Managing Director of Seven Summit Treks said.

He informed that the team was led by Turkish climber Tunc Findik while there were three Germans, and one climber each from Italy and Belgium.

According to the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, no Nepali woman had climbed the peak earlier.

“It was a proud moment and the expedition was awesome,” Sherpa, who is also the President of the Everest Summiteers Association, told THT Online after returning from the summit.

Born in in Patle VDC of Okhandhunga, Sherpa is also the first Nepali woman to climb Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Baruntse (7,125 m), Pumori (7,145 m) and Cho-Oyu (8,201 m).

The three-time Everest summiteer also became the first Nepali climber to make ascent to Khan Tengri (7,010m) in Kyrgyzstan.