First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008 Spring
Press Release

Date: July 29, 2007

The glory of Sagarmatha, the highest peak of the world had been heightened by the first ascent to the summit by a duo of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953 A.D. Since then, there have been continuous ascents every year and trend of setting records.

Ever since mountaineering scenario was dominated by men; however, this changed with the first successful ascent of Sagarmatha by Junko Tabei in 1975 A.D. This led to a chain of events with many women mountaineers making significant attempts. In 1993 A.D. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa became the first Nepali woman to conquer the Everest and Lhakpa Doma Sherpa the only woman mountaineer to summit the Everest for Six times. This has contributed to bring forth the image of Courageous Nepali Women to the world.

Till the date, in almost all the expeditions, there have been more numbers of men than the women. To bring in a new trend to this tradition, First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008 Spring is to be organized which would be comprised of women in the roles of team leaders, team members, kitchen crew and staff. Till now, only selected few Nepalese women have had opportunity to create history, hence this expedition aims to include interested and capable women from various caste groups in the team. And through this press release, we would like to open the forum for Nepalese women to participate in this expedition.

First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008 hopes to encourage more women participations in mountaineering and bring new dimension in the women mountaineering scenario of Nepal.

Organizing Committee:

1. Mr. Khada Nanda Dhakal- Chief Advisor
   (Under Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism And Civil Aviation-Mountaineering Section)

2. Mr. DaGombu Sherpa – General Leader
   (Central Executive Board Member, NMA, Founder President, NMIA)

3. Mr. Pemba Dorjee Sherpa – Climbing Leader
   (World record of 8 hr speed climbing to Everest)

4. Ms. Susmita Maskey – Expedition Co-Ordinator
   8,800m Everest, 2005

5. Ms. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa – Technical Leader
   Everest Summiteer, 2007, First Female Mountaineering Instructor