Some days I feel like I’m on top of the world … but some people have actually been there … Everest … the summit of summits. Meet four amazing women who pushed themselves far beyond their limits and reached amazing heights.
Some days I feel like I’m on top of the world … but some people have actually been there … Everest … the summit of summits. Meet four amazing women who pushed themselves far beyond their limits and reached amazing heights.
I think most of us have heard the name Edmund Hillary, the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. He and his sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, reached the summit on May 29, 1953. On May 16, 1975, Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei, became the first woman (and only 36th person) to conquer Everest.
Born in Fukushima, Junko Tabei founded the Ladies Climbing Club in 1969, paving the way up for Japanese women mountaineers. This petite woman, a mere 1.5 m (4’9”), was a giant in courage and determination, reaching many summits before attempting Everest. While encamped at 6,300 meters (20,669 feet) Junko & her team were struck by an avalanche. Twelve days later, after battling extreme weather, dwindling oxygen and fierce winds, Junko Tabei reached the lofty heights of the summit. Check out her fascinating memoir, Honouring High Places: The Mountain Life of Junko Tabei.
She was the next woman to conquer Everest’s peak … only 11 days after Junko’s amazing triumph. At 37, this mother of 3 made a huge decision, “I made up my mind to reach the top. I did it on behalf of my 400 million Chinese sisters, to prove that we women could do the same as our male companions”. Everest took its toll … she lost 3 toes to frostbite. She carried the Olympic flag into the stadium at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. What’s the highest altitude you’ve visited with your feet still on the ground?
Okay … hold onto your seat … the next woman I want to feature is someone whose story truly blows me away. In 2011, twenty four year old, national level volleyball player, Arunima Sinha, was thrown from a moving train by thieves for refusing to hand over the gold chain she was wearing. Tragically, she lost her left leg in the ordeal.
Her goal, from that day onwards, was not just to become adept at walking but to scale the highest point in the world – Mount Everest. In 2013 she did just that, becoming the first female amputee to achieve this lofty goal. She is truly an inspiration in every way imaginable.
À Chacun Son Everest! is an Association founded in 1994 by alpinist & mountaineer doctor, Christine Janin … the first French woman to summit Everest.
“I am a mountaineer doctor. I was able to climb Everest a few years ago and learned so much from that experience. From there, I met wonderful people who encouraged me in thinking about the difficulties that I encountered when trying to climb Everest and the parallels with disease. This is why I decided to found À Chacun Son Everest. I committed myself to bring a strong message to women and children suffering from cancer.”
Helping women & children climb the mountains they face is something we admire immensely. Merci beaucoup Dr. Janin!
Hoping we all reach the highest heights we are capable of …
Until next time . . . .
