Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

Pasang reached the top of 8,848 m. peak, and became the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest. The feeling of pride, ecstasy, pure joy, and emotions ran through her veins as she stood tall on the summit, raising her arms in the air.

Therafter, she descended alongside four other Sherpas. Suddenly, the weather conditions became quite terrible.

All of a sudden, a team member named Sonam Tshering Sherpa got severely sick at the south summit. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa put an immense effort into the rescue, although sadly, he passed away due to his illness.

During the descent from the summit, the weather became quite terrible, which is quite normal in high-altitude regions. The situation turned out to be worse as Pasang Lhamu Sherpa said goodbye to the world on the south summit.

She died while descending when a huge snowstorm that hit the team of 5 members. And the team ran out of oxygen. Pasang and the other climber, Sonam Tshering Sherpa, couldn’t survive and make it down to the base camp. While the other team members, Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa, Pemba Dorje Sherpa, and Dawa Tashi Sherpa survived the descent.

On 10 May 1993, the body of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was discovered near the South Summit. Just after disappearing for around 18 days on Chomolongma (Mount Everest) peak, her body was found. Vladas Vitkauskas, the Lithuanian mountaineer, played a pivotal role in helping move her body down the mountain. Pasang was the leader of the Nepalese Women Everest Expedition (1993) from Mount Everest.

With the improvement in weather conditions, her body was recovered and brought to Kathmandu. Her funeral procession was attended by thousands of Nepalese people.

Challenges Faced By Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

Pasang’s life wasn’t easy because the struggle to dream big in those times as a woman was itself a huge challenge. She had a bigger goal; reaching the top of Everest was her biggest goal. When she was young, her family made all the arrangements for her to get married. Although Pasang insisted that she didn’t want to marry and had other plans instead.

After sharing her dream of climbing Mount Everest, she didn’t get enough support from her parents. In those times, women weren’t used to doing such things; instead, their role was to stay home, take care of children, and the whole family.

Her dad, on the other hand, was a popular guide who led a lot of expeditions. This is where the climbing aspiration might have come to her. Her brothers also followed the same path, as it was one of the lucrative ways to make money. As a Sherpa growing up in those high elevations, it was the most common occupation.

Her mom and dad tried to stop her when she urged to follow her dreams. Neither the Sherpa community backed her to go to the mountains. She left an arranged marriage and married a man she fell in love with, Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa.

The couple then eloped and ran away from their village. Following some time, they started their own trekking and guide business named Thamserku Trekking in Kathmandu.

Climbing Struggles

Climbing Everest challenges you from all angles, be it physically, physiologically, or mentally. The challenges it possesses are extreme: low oxygen, unpredictable weather conditions, and steep trails filled with snow.

Pasang attempted Everest three times and finally reached the summit on her fourth occasion. Despite the failed attempts, she didn’t give up hope easily. She kept on trying. As a woman in Nepal, society talked negatively about her when she tried to break barriers.

But Pasang didn’t care about what others said and didn’t stop. She kept training hard after every failure and pushed all the way on her fourth try. Finally, she achieved her biggest dream of climbing the highest peak on April 22, 1993.

Pasang started climbing by herself as soon as she started her own trekking company with her husband. She used to help tourists in their climb at first, then started climbing on her own. She climbed Yala Peak, Pisang, and Mont Blanc in Europe, starting with smaller peaks. Later, she also climbed Cho Oyu, which is the world’s sixth-tallest peak.

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The Storm that Killed Her

The whole team of Pasang and co had successfully completed the summit at around 2:00 PM. After reaching Mount Everest’s top, she achieved something that no woman had ever dared or even thought about. The first woman from Nepal to do so.

Her dreams became true the moment she was waiting for her whole life. After a couple of hours of claiming the extraordinary feat, a frightening storm arrived when they were descending. They were caught in a severe snowstorm near the South Summit (around 8,700 meters). 

The sudden weather change trapped them as the snow was massive and the winds freezing, which made them clueless. They were at a high altitude where the oxygen is very low and the visibility is barely minimal.

During such a fragile atmosphere, in order to help another teammate, Sonam Tshering Sherpa, Pasang stayed there. But the weather became even worse, leading to the death of both.

Her body was found on May 10 in 1993.

Rewards and Achievements Earned

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was a courageous woman who inspired the whole country, especially the women who dream big. Even though her death was painful, she became a national hero and got various awards. First and foremost, she was awarded of Nepal Tara (Star of Nepal) by the King of Nepal himself. She became the first woman to earn this prestigious award.

The National Youth Foundation also provided the 1993-94 Youth Excellence Award to her. Keeping her contributions in mind, a humongous statue of Pasang Lhamu was built at Bouddha, Chuchepati. There is also a postage stamp issued in her name.

The Government of Nepal changed the name of Jasamba Himal (7,315 m) to Pasang Lhamu Peak.

Other notable honors include:

• The Pasang Lhamu Memorial Hall was established in Dhulabari of Jhapa district.
• The 117 km Trishuli-Dunche road was renamed to Pasang Lhamu Highway.
• Her story was featured in school textbooks, so every child learns about her.
• In 2024, a crater on the Moon was named “Lhamu”.

Message Left Behind

Her presence may not be here with us today, but the true legacy that she created is still within the hearts of the citizens of Nepal. Young girls get inspired by her story, which gives them the encouragement to pursue their dreams. She is also the motivation for many; they idolise her, they whisper to themselves, “if Pasang can, then I can too.”

She proved that women are also capable of pulling out such things if given a chance. This opened the door to possibilities for women in Nepal. And climbers such as Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, Purnima Shrestha, and Chhurim Sherpa are the women whom she inspired. They looked upon Psang Lhamu Sherpa as a role model.

Today also climbing for Nepali women is quite tough. The story of Pasang Lhamu, however, shed light amidst these problems. She didn’t reach the top of Everest for fame or recognition but to fulfill her passion, dream, and to reveal possibilities.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Movies and Documentaries

There is a biological documentary related to Pasang Lhamu Sherpa released in 2022 named “Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest”. 

The film showcases real footage, interviews with loved ones and friends of Pasang, and the struggles she faced throughout the journey and from the mountaineering community. Not only that, it highlights her role in Nepali society and how she inspired future generations of Nepali women.

Casts:

All the movie casts include actual characters, and their roles are played by the same person.

• Pasang Lhamu Sherpa
• Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa – Husband of late Pasang Lhamu Sherpa
• Marc Batard
• Norbu Tenzing
• Vincanne Adams
• Jan Arnold
• Rudi Meier
• Jean Raphoz
• Mireille Schmitt – Friend of Pasang Lhamu
• Dawa Futi Sherpa – Pasang Lhamu’s daughter
• Ang Dorjee Sherpa – Pasang Lhamu’s eldest brother
• Lhakpa Geltzen Sherpa
• Nawang Thiele Sherpa – Pasang Lhamu’s younger brother
• Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, PhD
• Pemba Norbu Sherpa
• Phurna Kitar Sherpa
• Raju Silwal
• Pascal Tournaire
• Sir Edmund Hillary (includes archival footage)
• Tenzing Norgay (includes archive footage)

The following documentary film is directed by Nancy Svendsen. Its running time is around 72 minutes and is covered in languages such as English, French, and Nepali. The theatrical release screened in theaters in four different countries. They are Nepal, Italy, Canada, and the United States.

It won numerous awards, too, and was screened at film festivals worldwide. The film made its World Premiere on March 3, 2022. That too at the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It is available on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video in the US/UK, too.

Conclusion

There is a saying, “Courage knows no gender” which relates very well to the life of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. Her determination and will to reach the summit of the world’s most dangerous peak speak volumes about the character she had. Despite facing several challenges, she stood tall and moved women to have faith and follow their dreams even if it meant going against the world.

Today, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa’s history inspires everyone, not only because she reached the top but also opened up the pathway for others to follow. Her name is etched in the history books as a hero who never gave up and dared to make the dream come true through every thick and thin.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How did Pasang Lhamu Sherpa die?

She died while descending after a huge snowstorm hit the team of 5 members. They were at a high altitude, and the weather conditions became harsh, along with the lack of oxygen, causing the death of Pasang.

How did Pasang Lhamu Sherpa climb Everest?

She reached the summit of the Everest on her fourth attempt; previous attempts failed because of harsh weather and technical difficulties. Finally, she succeeded on April 22, 1993, via the Southeast Ridge route, leading the Nepali Woman’s Everest Expedition team.

Who is Pasang Lhamu Sherpa?

Pasang was a Nepali mountaineer, or the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest. She achieved this feat on April 22, 1993, but unfortunately died while descending, becoming an inspiration for future generations, especially girls, and a national hero.

What did Pasang Lhamu Sherpa do?

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa became the first Nepali woman to reach the top of Mount Everest. After failing for consecutive times, she succeeded on April 22, 1993, summiting the Everest and writing her name in the history books.

What is Pasang Lhamu Sherpa known for?

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa is known for reaching the summit of Mount Everest as the first Nepalese woman. Despite various societal pressures and family concerns, she achieved the dream of standing on the top of the Everest and broke various records.

What killed Pasang Lhamu Sherpa?

Terrible weather conditions, a sudden snowstorm, and a lack of oxygen at high altitude all played their part in killing Pasang when she was descending from the Everest.

When did Pasang Lhamu Sherpa die?

Pasang died on April 22, 1993, at the age of 31, on Mount Everest. She, along with teammate Sonam Tshering Sherpa, died while descending due to fragile weather conditions.

When was Pasang Lhamu Sherpa born?

Pasang was born on December 10, 1961, in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. Having been born in a mountaineering family, with the father being the guide who led a lot of expeditions. Her interest in mountaineering sparked because of it.

When did Pasang Lhamu Sherpa climb Mount Everest?

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa successfully climbed Mount Everest on April 22, 1993, on her fourth attempt. After numerous struggles and poor weather conditions, she finally climbed Mount Everest, becoming the first Nepalese woman to do so.

Where was Pasang Lhamu Sherpa born?

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was born in the country of the Himalayas, Nepal. She was born in Lukla of Solukhumbu district, which lies in the Eastern part of Nepal. She grew up in the region, which is referred to as the gateway to the Everest region.

Why is Pasang Lhamu Sherpa known to the rest of the world?

She was known to the rest of the world because she became the first Nepalese woman to reach the top of the Everest. Thereby, she is quite famous all over the world. Pasang achieved this feat on April 22, 1993, for which she was historically awarded and gained massive recognition, inspiring the next generation of women of Nepal.