Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 17:

Twenty-four-year-old Sushmita Maskey is all set to attempt Mt Everest this season. If she succeeded in her mission, she will become the first woman from the Newari community to scale the tallest peak of the world. Maskey is all set to leave for Lukla, with Ramesh Dangol (41) and Sonam Dangol (27) in her team, at the end of March. Maskey will attempt the summit with the help of Dawa Sherpa while Ramesh and Sonam will accompany her up to Camp II. Their expedition team — Peace Everest Expedition 2005 — led by Ramesh will attempt the peak in May. The team’s mission is to spread the message of peace. “I’m confident that I will be able to scale the peak,” said Maskey at a press conference organised by Newa Nuga Cooperative Society and the Rotary Club of Kathmandu here today. She has been taking training for the past one-and-a-half years to conquer the Mt Everest. “We also plan to teach children in the Everest region to read and write,” she said adding that the team will sell mountaineering equipment after their mission in order to helping women and children get the light of education. Maskey has so far scaled Yala peak and Island peak.