Nepali and international women achieve new milestones as the number of female Everest climbers continues to rise.
According to “Mountaineering in Nepal: Facts and Figures 2023” by the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation, Department of Tourism, Kathmandu, July 2023, a total of 519 females have climbed Mount Everest.
Junko Tabei was the first woman to climb Everest on May 16, 1975, and Pasang Lhamu Sherpa is the first Nepali female climber
The number of female climbers is increasing yearly more than 250 female climbers are expected to increase this year, 2024. Different Nepali media reported that at least 210 women climbed Mount Everest in the 2024 spring climbing season. The official data for this season is yet to come from the Department of Tourism.
Nearly 8,800 mountaineers have summited Everest from the Nepal side since Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and New Zealander Edmund Hillary first set foot atop the world’s highest peak in 1953.
Some records by female climbers in 2023:
Phunjo Lama from Nepal reclaimed the record for the fastest ascent by a woman, climbing from base camp to summit and back in 24 hours and 26 minutes.
Purnima Shrestha from Nepal became the first woman to climb Everest three times in a single season (14 days).
Lucia Janičová from Slovakia became the first woman from her country to reach the Everest summit.
Ligia Maria Madrigal Moya from Costa Rica was the first woman from Costa Rica to climb Everest.
