NATIONAL7 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Aiming High

A four-member Nepali women team is all set to climb the highest peak in the world

By BHAGIRATH YOGI

If there is a will there is a way. For Dawa Yangzi Sherpa, a young woman of 21, from Solukhumbu district, seeing Mt. Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) is a day-to-day affair. Though some of her relatives have already climbed the highest peak in the world none of them encouraged her to take up the challenge. "Hearing of their heroic tales, I also had an ambition to climb atop the Sagarmatha," recalls Dawa. "When I told this to my family members, they also encouraged me," she said.

Expedition members with organizers and guests : Preparing for a millennial climb.

Thanks to her untiring zeal and enthusiasm, she was able to find an opportunity to undergo mountaineering training in Austria. A trekking leader by profession, Dawa-- the youngest member of the team-- is now determined to make history along with her three colleagues.

The Nepalese Women Millennium Everest Expedition (NWMEE) Spring 2000 is being organized by Sushma Koirala Memorial Trust (SMKT), a Nepali NGO. " This determination of Nepalese woman mountaineers to conquer the world's highest peak is a symbol of the confidence, courage, strength and will power required to face the challenges of the new century," said Sujata Koirala, president of SKMT.

A total of 874 persons (including 52 women) have scaled Sagarmatha since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenjing Norgay Sherpa stepped atop the peak in May 1953. Junko Tabei of Japan was the first women climber to scale the highest peak via the South Col in May 1975. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa is the only Nepali woman to have scaled Sagarmatha, who, unfortunately, died while climbing down the peak.

Led by Lakpa Sherpa, 26, the team have Mingma Yangzi Sherpa, 33, as deputy expedition leader and Dolma Sherpa, 23, as the other member. Though they come from different backgrounds, common aspiration and bond of friendship keeps them together.

A mother of two teen-aged children, Mingma operates the Himalayan View Lodge at Tengboche. "I want people to understand the significant role women can play for the development of society," said Mingma, who has undergone ice and rock climbing training in Austria. She has also worked as a Cook for expeditions to Everest and Ama Dablam.

Dolma, an undergraduate in commerce, has trekked to Mustang and Annapurna Base Camp. She has also taken the basic mountaineering course organized by Nepal Mountaineering Association last year and has already climbed the Nawal peak. The expedition leader, Lakpa Sherpa, joined the trekking industry in 1992 and has undergone a mountaineering training course at Manang. "I want to set records by climbing Sagarmatha again and again," says Lakpa confidently, who has already climbed Mera and Nawal peaks.

"Based on our determination and courage, it can be said that we will succeed in climbing Sagarmatha provided the weather favors us," says Ang Mingma Sherpa, an Everest Summiteer, who is guiding and assisting the women expedition team. "They are highly motivated, well-trained, mentally prepared and physically fit to undertake the task."

The organizer, SKMT, has estimated total cost of the expedition at around Rs 6.2 million. Besides, Asian Airlines and Asian Trekking Company are providing support worth Rs four million to the team. "We are having very good response and encouragement to this expedition," said Birendra Dahal, covenor of the fund raising committee.

Officials also have positive response to the expedition. "The government will extend every possible support to make this expedition a success," said Narayan Singh Pun, Assistant Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, who personally provided Rs 250,000 for the expedition.

It might be a thing of excitement for television viewers to see people risking their lives to climb the peaks. But it is more than adventure for those who really decided to take on the nature. "The wind blows at a speed of up to 150 km per hour at the peak of the Everest and the temperature is around -50 degree Celsius. The `time of useful consciousness' at the peak is only ten minutes, that is after that it won't survive. It's a one-way traffic at the Everest. If you shy away, you will cost your life," said Minister Pun, a retired Colonel who has flown helicopters around the highest peak. "That is why climbing Everest is so special."

Even if it is a risky adventure, you can't stop them from climbing Sagarmatha who see it from their window everyday in their life. Says expedition leader Lakpa, "I have still two months to wait to embark on the expedition. But, personally, I would like to go to climb the Everest right now."