KATHMANDU, APRIL 16
Six Nepali women mountaineers created history by scaling Mount Annapurna today. Before them, no Nepali woman had scaled the 8,091-metre peak. Theirs was also the first summit of the spring season this year.
Photo Journalist Purnima Shrestha, Vice-president of Nepal Mountaineering Association Maya Sherpa, Dawa Yangjum Sherpa, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita, Dabuti Sherpa, and Sharmila Syangtan Tamang are the ones who scaled the peak today, Thaneshwor Guragain, manager of Seven Summit Treks, told THT.
Priyanka Mangesh Mohite from India also scaled Mt Annapurna today to become the first Indian woman to scale one of the 10 tallest mountains in the world.
Along with her, Managing Director at Pioneer Adventure Treks Mingdorchi Sherpa, Sanu Sherpa, Pema Chhiring Sherpa, Indian climber Bhagwan Chaulee, and Hu Tao from China also scaled Mt Annapurna, said Pasang Sherpa, chairman of Pioneer Adventure Treks.
Sirbaz Khan and Muhammad Abdul, who also scaled the peak today, became the first Pakistanis to climb Mt Annapurna.
Including Sherpas, 69 mountaineers scaled Mt Annapurna today, said Guragain. Of the 44 climbers who have received expedition permits for the peak this season so far, 31 scaled the peak today itself, setting another record.
A total of 626 mountaineers have received expedition permits for 16 mountains in the country for this spring. The Department of Tourism said the record number of climbers is 'a good sign for the revival of the mountaineering sector'.
The historical summits of today have a special significance for the mountaineering sector, as all tourism activities were halted last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 17, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
