When Pasang Lhamu was nine years old, her namesake became the first Nepali woman to climb Chomolungma. This year, at age 23 Pasang herself reached the summit of the highest mountain in the world.

She is elated. Things have been going well for this bright young woman from Solu Khumbu after she graduated from the International Mountain Guide School in France last year and become Nepal's first mountaineering instructor. "At first, people usually don't believe me when I say I have climbed Mt Everest and that I am an instructor," she told us.

Pasang now trains students for the Nepal Mountaineering Association's (NMA) basic level course in rock and ice climbing and in mountain rescue. "It's great that Pasang has managed to do so well, we're really glad to have her in our team," says Dagombu Sherpa of the NMA.

Pasang is also preparing to go back to Chomolungma next year as a high altitude guide on the First Inclusive Women's Sagarmatha Expedition 2008 Spring, of which Sprayway mountain gear model, Sushmita Maskay, is also a member. The expedition has vacancies for a few more Nepali members.

Says Pasang: "Nepali women are not getting into mountaineering because of the lack of awareness and encouragement. I want to change that."

Shailee Basnet