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Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita is an elite climber and has summited Mount Everes and K2, but since the birth of her son her climbing has taken a back seat but now she’s set out to inspire him
Dream Mountain: Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita stars in trailer
A new mum has conquered a deadly 6,000m peak so that she can be an inspiration for her two-year-old son.
Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita, 37, is an accomplished climber having summited Mount Everest and K2, and in 2016 she was crowned National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year.
But to get there she had to overcome incredible adversity, as in Sherpa culture climbing is viewed as a male pastime and people would say she “shouldn’t be with men and climbing that rock”.
Then when she had her first child, Ei-chan Nurbu, she faced fresh challenges because she was expected to stay at home and look after him as this was viewed as the mother’s responsibility.
But Pasang said that wanted to inspire her son and show him that he should follow his dreams, so on his second birthday, November 14, 2019, she summited Cholatse – a 6,440m mountain in the Everest region.
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Image:
Cira Crowell/InLightWorks Productions)
What do you think of Pasang’s incredible climb? Let us know in the comments…
Pasang said: “I learned so many things from my mother – she was single, she was raising two kids by herself, and she never went to school.
“And then I saw how a woman can be strong.
“I have great respect for all the mothers, because the mothers are very strong, they’re always there for their children.
“They sacrifice their dreams for the children. Everybody should have their dream to live, you know?
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Image:
Cira Crowell/InLightWorks Productions)
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“Now, I’m a mother, but I’m still living my dream – everybody has a right to live their dream.”
After flying to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region, Pasang hiked with Ei-chan and her husband, Tora Akita, to the base of the mountain.
There she left her husband to babysit at basecamp as she embarked on the two-day climb to the summit of Cholatse
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Image:
Cira Crowell/InLightWorks Productions)
She continued: “It was a hard decision – since you have a family and you love one thing.
“I think that giving birth and climbing mountains is the same – both are very hard, and it has a happiness that you will enjoy later.
“You struggle, you struggle, you struggle, and then when you get to the top you forget all this cold, hard part.
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“Same thing going through labor – the baby is there, and then you forget all the labour.”
Pasang completed the claim with Panuru Sherpa, Scott Simper, Lhakpa Gyaljen Sherpa, Tenging Sherpa and Cira Crowell.
Pasang’s story is featured in the film Dream Mountain, directed by Cira Crowell, which is currently being shown around the UK as part of the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Tickets are available here.
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