The Climbs
Mt Everest
The team started their mountaineering journey in 2007 as a members of the ‘First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition’ (FIWSE). Only seven Nepali women had scaled the summit of Mt Everest till 2007. FIWSE was conceptualized by the leaders DaGombu Sherpa and Pemba Dorji Sherpa with the objective to increase the participation and access of Nepali women in mountaineering.Ten Nepali women representing six different ethnic backgrounds joined the team, most of them new to mountaineering. Despite various socio-economic challenges FIWSE created history as all ten women successfully scaled Mt Everest in May 2008. With the message of ‘Unity in Diversity’, FIWSE became the most successful and largest women’s team to climb Mt Everest, ever!
Major supporters of the FIWSE climb included Government of Nepal, the United Nations World Food Programme, BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation, Embassy of Denmark, United Nations Development Programme, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Everest DeCargo, Tewa, District Development Committee- Dolakha, Sindhupalchok, Kathmandu, Mahottari, Everest Hardwear, Non-Resident Nepali Association, ICTC Group, Nepal Beema Samiti including more organizational, private sector and individual supporters.
Mt Kosciuszko, Australia
The Seven Summits Women Team reached the summit of Mt Kosciuszko, the highest in Australia on 7th July 2010. Including the climb, the team delivered motivational talk at 7 schools, colleges, Department of Foreign Affairs. The team hiked with around 40 women on Mt Gulaga. The team was supported by Crossing Land Education Trust, Outdoor Education Group and Veg Climate Alliance including supporters from Nepal. Nepalis in Australia organized honor and fundraiser program. The team visited Sydney, Bega Valley, Jindabyne, Canberra and Melbourne in a three week visit.
Mt Elbrus, Russia, Europe
Shailee reached the summit of Mt Elbrus, the highest peak in continental Europe situated in Russia in the Caucasus range on 29th August 2010. The team was hosted by the Embassy of Nepal in Moscow following the climb where the Nepali community shared the past and present of Russia. The team had special interaction with Nari Nikunja. Shailee delivered a talk at a special function organized by the Non-Residential Nepalis Association and the Nepali students at the University of People’s Friendship, Russia. Nepalis generously provided logistics as well as financial support to the team.
Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa
Marking International Women’s Day, the team scaled Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest in Africa on 5th March 2013 together with famous South African Actress Hlubi Mboya, youth activist Ashura Kayupayupa, teacher from Hadzabe community Anna Phillipa and WFP staff Nima. United Nations World Food Programme, Tanzania, major supporter of the climb, together with Childreach Tanzania arranged 7 school visits for the team. Nepal Tourism Board held their first promotional event in the African continent celebrating the team’s success. The events were held in Tanzania and South Africa.
Mt Aconcagua, Argentina, South America
Four team members Asha Kumari Singh, Chunu Shrestha, Nimdoma Sherpa and Pema Diki Sherpa reached the summit on 23rd February 2014 at 6:15 pm. Shailee returned along with Maya Gurung and Pujan Acharya to avoid possible risks including that of frostbite that had developed on the onward journey. This was the first time all team members did not reach the summit. However, this was also the first time the team was challenged with health and weather. In Maya’s words this was the biggest victory for the team. Shailee agrees as it was this climb that proved she and her team had become mature enough to take the right decision at the right time. The team then continued to Buenos Aires and Sao Paolo for tourism promotion events organized by the Embassy of Nepal on behalf of Nepal Tourism Board.
Denali Base Camp, USA, North America
On 24 June 2014 at 1:45 pm local time, Nimdoma along with Chunu Shrestha, Asha Kumari Singh and Pema Diki Sherpa
along with cameraperson Ang Tshering Lama reached atop the peak of North American summit Mt Denali in Alaska.
Following the climb, the team engaged in international events and exchanges. The team was invited as speakers at the
International Convention of Lions Club being held in Toronto, Canada. After that the team participated in a week-long tour organized by the US State Department. US Secretary of State John Kerry met the team during the exchange program. He remarked that the world needs more examples like the Seven Summits Women Team. Various organizations and Nepali community in the US held Fundraisers for the team as well.
Mt Vinson Massif, Antarctica
Four members marked the grand finale of the mission with the successful ascent of the 7th summit, Mt Vinson Massif in Antarctica in December 2014 and a landmark in the international promotion of Nepal with a successful event in Santiago, Chile in January 2015.
Nimdoma Sherpa, Maya Gurung, Chunu Shrestha and Pema Diki Sherpa made it to the summit of Mt Vinson Massif on 23rd December 2014 at 3:00 pm. The team waved the national flag atop the highest mountain on the southern end of the world.
The climb was organized by New Zealand based company Adventure Consultatnts Pvt Ltd.
Supporters
Seven Summits Women Team
Government of Nepal Nepal Tourism Board Nepal Mountaineering Association Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal-TAAN The United Nations World Food Programme Lions Clubs International Non-Resident Nepali Association Phul Kumari Mahato Memorial Trust SmartPaani Pvt Ltd Nepal America Journalists Association-NEAJA Nepali Women’s Global Network, California Chapter-NWGN Golchha Organization Panchakanya Group Murarka Organization The North Face Association of Chartered Accountants of Nepal Tewa Cho-Oyu Trekking Mountain Deligths Treks & Expeditions Merojob.com President Travel Pvt Ltd Heartbeat US Nepali Climbers Association Nepalese Association of North California-NANC NEBICO Jyoti Group Association of St Mary’s Almunae Nepal- ASMAN Folk Nepal Temple Tiger Group of Companies Suman Pandey Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal
The team has been supported by various individual donations, fundraising events and online donations including above. In addition, millions have supported the team in various ways along each step of the journey.