Truly on top of the world

Four Nepalese women conquer highest peaks in all 7 continents

January 10, 2015 01:41 am | Updated May 23, 2016 04:08 pm IST - Kathmandu:

Nepalese climbers (from left) Nimdona Sherpa, Maya Gurung, Asha Singh, Chunu Shrestha, Pema Dikki and Shailee Basnet at the Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu on Friday.

Nepalese climbers (from left) Nimdona Sherpa, Maya Gurung, Asha Singh, Chunu Shrestha, Pema Dikki and Shailee Basnet at the Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu on Friday.

In a first, four members of an all-women Nepalese expedition team have scaled the highest peaks in all the seven continents.

The team began their quest in 2008 by climbing Mount Everest and finally scaled Mt. Vinson in Antarctica on December 23 last year.

They became the first all-women expedition group to climb the peaks in the seven continents.

Of the seven-member group, Chunu Shrestha, Nimdoma Sherpa, Pema Diki Sherpa and Maya Gurung succeeded in climbing all the seven peaks. They reached the summit of Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica on December 23 last year, achieving this unique feat.

“The climb was more challenging than expected because of the weather. We had needle-like snow piercing on our faces. Yet, reaching the summit filled my heart. A long-time dream finally came true,” said Nimdoma Sherpa, who scaled all the peaks.

Team leader Shailee Basnet said: “It has been a tough seven years but not without achievement.”

The women returned home on Friday. They would continue to climb mountains even after achieving their goal, said Basnet.

They have scaled Everest in Asia, Kosciuszko in Australia, Elbrus in Europe, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Aconcagua in South America, Denali or McKinley in North America and Vinson in Antarctica.

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