Hailing from different backgrounds, these young women have found a common love which binds them. Mountaineering, they say, is addictive. It is this passion that drove them to climb to the top of the world Mt Everest in May 2008, Mt Kosciuszko in Australia in July 2010 and Mt Elbrus in Europe in August 2010. Next, the 7 Summits Women Team will be in Africa to summit Mt Kilimanjaro from March 1to 7.[break]
Through this expedition, which carries a slogan ‘Killi for a cause’, the team intends to highlight the importance of girl education. Three African women from Tanzania will accompany them on this climb, to highlighting the importance of the same in their own country.
From L-R: Members of 7 Summits Women Team, Asha Kumari Singh, Chunu Shrestha, Pema Diki Sherpa, Pujan Acharya, Shailee Basnet,Maya Gurung and Nimdoma Sherpa, are halfway to completing their mission of scaling the highest summit of each continent.
Shailee says, “The increase in child enrollment in the primary level has been phenomenal in Tanzania. Yet, there aren’t enough text books, desks, benches, etc., to match the need of the students. Our schools in Nepal face similar problems. A single teacher rushes to teach many classes and the lack of text books is also quite common. So, we are trying to raise awareness about such issues and help our respective countries.”
The plan to summit the highest peaks in the seven continents came with the welcoming of the new year of 2009. The closeness during the Everest climb had also developed into a strong friendship. Chunu states, “We had become inseparable.” Meanwhile, Pema adds, “We were always speaking with each other on the phone.”
With the establishing of the Seven Summits Women Team the goal set. Now, they are three mountains down with four more to go. “We’ve reached half of our mission,” says Shailee. Their excitement for what’s to come is palpable and they are prepared to face the challenge. Fear, explains Pema, is actually helpful as we are extra careful every time. “From keeping warm to avoiding frostbites to drinking plenty of hot water, I make sure that I do not take any chances,” she says.
Everyone agrees that Mt Everest was challenging and that made the other two peaks a lot easier. It holds a special place in their hearts. “Everest is like first love,” Shailee jokes. The rest laugh in acknowledgement. They say the feeling standing on the summit is indescribable, but when pressed, they come with words like ‘heavenly’, ‘a sense of achievement’, ‘a spiritual experience’ and ‘closeness with nature’.
The experience while climbing Australian Mountain Kosciuszko is one they like to talk most about. Meeting the friendly Australians and sharing experiences was interesting, to say the least. Next was Mt Elbrus in Russia where the small, but close knit Nepali community made them feel truly welcome.
Climbing the peaks is their priority at the moment. Most of them work as freelancers, working as writer, trek guides and mountaineering activities.
As Goodwill Ambassadors of Child Reach Nepal, the 7 Summits Women Team is looking forward to help children with particular focus on girl child. Their target fund of 50,000 dollars includes their expenses as well as donations to their charity missions. Apart from the help from the North Face, who will be providing them equipments and gears, they haven’t yet raised half of the fund they will need in March.
Still, these women are optimistic and see themselves heading toward Mt Kilimanjaro. “Our Plan B is also going to Africa,” says Shailee.
After Mt Kilimanjaro, the team will be off to Mt Aconcagua in South America, then to Mt Denali in North America and finally to Mt Vinson in Antartica. They plan to reach their goal by 2014 or early 2015.
Those interested to help and encourage the 7 Summits Women Team with the fund raising can log on to www.sevensummitswomen.org for contact details.
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