# Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa (Sherpa: པ་སངས་ལྷ་མོ་ཤར་པ།, Nepali: पासाङ ल्हामु शेर्पा; 10 December 1961 – 22 April 1993) was the first Nepalese woman to climb the summit of Mount Everest.

## Climbing career

She was born into a mountaineering family and was involved in climbing from her teens. She had successfully climbed Mount Blanc, Mount Cho Oyu, Mount Yalapic, Pisang Himal, and others. She had attempted to climb Mount Everest three times but did not succeed until April 22, 1993, when she reached the summit by the South Col via the Southeast Ridge route.
The morning of April 22, 1993, was bright and clear and remained so until Pasang reached the top of the 8,848 m. peak with five Sherpas, Sonam Tshering Sherpa, Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa, Pemba Dorje Sherpa, and Dawa Tashi Sherpa. Meanwhile, a member of the team and five-time Everest summitter Sonam Tshering Sherpa got seriously sick at south summit and, despite Pasang Lhamu's efforts to help, did not survive his illness. While descending from the summit, the weather, as often happens in the mountains, suddenly turned bad, causing her to lose her own life on the south summit. Vladas Vitkauskas helped move her body down the mountain.
For achieving what no other Nepalese woman had achieved before her, Pasang Lhamu was posthumously honored by her country and mountaineers all around the world in various ways. She was the very first woman to be decorated with the "Nepal Tara (Star)" by the King of Nepal. The National Youth Foundation conferred the 1993-94 Youth Excellence Award on her. Similarly, in order to commemorate her feat, a life-size statue of Pasang Lhamu was erected at Bouddha, Chuchepati; a postage stamp was issued in her name; the Government of Nepal renamed Jasamba Himal (7,315 m) in the Mahalangur Range as Pasang Lhamu Peak; the Ministry of Agriculture named a special strain of wheat as Pasang Lhamu wheat; the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Hall was established in Dhulabari of Jhapa district in east Nepal; and the 117 km Trishuli-Dunche road was named the Pasang Lhamu Highway.

## Biographical documentary

In 2022, a biographical documentary titled Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest was released, chronicling the life and legacy of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. Directed by Nancy Svendsen, the film highlights her extraordinary journey to become the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest and the challenges she faced in her pursuit. Executive Producer Alison Levine supported the project, which took over ten years to complete.
Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest had its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on March 3rd, 2022. and has been well-received by critics and audiences alike. The film has screened at 45 film festivals worldwide and won twenty awards.

## Moon crater named after Pasang Lhamu

In 2024, the International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature named a crater on the Moon's South Pole "Lhamu" in honor of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. This recognition was made official by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the name was approved on July 29, 2024. The Lhamu Crater is located on an important mountain near the lunar South Pole. This significant honor highlights Pasang Lhamu Sherpa's legacy as the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest. The Nepali embassy in Washington D.C. remarked on the occasion, stating, "Her extraordinary achievement has opened doors for young Nepali women and inspired countless women worldwide to aim for even greater heights, not only in mountaineering but in all walks of life."