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Everest Climbing News Summary 2016

Everest summit season started with earnest in May and is now coming to a close, having brought some outstanding climbing feats from women around the world.  There are some absolutely unbelievable stories in here, from start to finish.  I’m so excited to show these to you and to hear what you think.  Who inspires you most from this selection of wonder women?  What do you think?

Most Successful Female Everest Climber

In 2000, Lhakpa Sherpa was the first Nepalese woman to summit and descend Everest safely.  In 2016 she became the world’s most successful female Everest climber, having been to the summit and back no fewer than seven times.

The Guardian talks to Lhakpa Sherpa about her seven summits of Everest

Peruvian Celebrations for Abuse Survivor

Peruvians celebrated Silvia Vasquez-Lavado’s successful summit of Everest this month.  The survivor of sexual violence was the first Peruvian woman to reach the summit.  The summit was made with the help Courageous Girls, a non-profit set up with a vision:

‘Our vision is a world in which survivors of sexual abuse realize they have the power to achieve anything they want and believe that nothing can hold them back from the beautiful life they deserve.’ http://courageousgirls.org

Mizo Summit Success

On 21^st may 20 year old Lalrintluangi sumitted Everest becoming the first female from her region to do so.  An incredible climbing achievement.

Bengal Climbing Woman

Bengal woman, Aparna Kumar, hit the top of Everest last week and plans to finish off her mammoth climbing task by sumitting Mount McKinley later this year, having already got to the top of Mount Vinson in January.

Sri Lankan First Everest Climbing Summit

Sri Lanka celebrated on 21^st May with the summit of Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/sri-lankan-climber-successfully-summits-mt-everest/

Australian Everest Success and Sadness

Alyssa Azar was the youngest Australian female to summit Everest, while her countrymate Dr Maria Strydom summited and sadly died on her descent.

Melissa Arnot Smashes Out an Oxygen-free Ascent

After five previous successful summit ascents on Everest, Melissa Arnot became the first ever American woman to summit and descend without supplemental oxygen.  Only a tiny percentage – fewer than 3% of climbers –  do the climb and descent without oxygen.

Active Duty Army Officer Summits the highest mountain

Elyse Ping Medvigy, thought to be the first active duty female soldier to attempt the world highest mountain, summitted on 24^th May, raising awareness of PTSD.

Kim Hess & Chhiring Dorje Sherpa make the top

As part of her seven summits bid, this week Kim Hess achieved her Everest goal, reaching the summit with Chhiring Dorje Sherpa.

Japanese Youngest Everest Summit

Japan saw its youngest female Everest summiteer.  Marin Minamiya is an experienced climber, being the youngest woman in the world to climb Manaslu, which rises to 8,163 metres in west-central Nepal.

UAE Breaking Down Barriers for women

A large group of female climbers from the United Arab Emirates trekked to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 metres, breaking down barriers and supported by the UAE government, keen to break down barriers and empower women.

What an astounding series of achievements.  We’re so awed and amazed by what these women have done.  What do you think about their achievements? Leave us a comment now.  

In the coming month we are talking all about women getting outside and climbing – whether that’s about moving from indoor to outdoor climbing or pushing yourself further in your climbing life.  

Let us know what you’re doing or if you want your questions answered.

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