Phunjo Jhangmu Lama, a remarkable Nepali woman climber from Gorkha, has achieved a historic feat by becoming the fastest female to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
She stood atop the world’s highest peak at 6:23 AM this morning, reclaiming her title as the swiftest woman climber on Everest. Base camp officials confirmed this remarkable achievement.
Phunjo embarked on her ascent from the base camp at 3:52 PM on Wednesday and reached the summit point at 6:23 AM on Thursday. Her remarkable climb took just 14 hours and 31 minutes, a testament to her courage and determination.
In 2018, Phunjo made headlines when she reached the Everest summit in 39 hours and 6 minutes. However, her record was later broken by Ada Tsang Yin-hung of Hong Kong in 2021, who scaled the world’s highest peak in 25 hours and 50 minutes.
This season, as part of the TAG Nepal Everest expedition, Phunjo decided to reclaim her title. Shiva Bahadur Sapkota, General Secretary at the Everest Summiteers Association, congratulated Phunjo for her remarkable achievement.
Gautam, who verified her climb from the base camp, praised her exceptional courage and determination. Trained in the Swiss Alps and Nepal’s Himalayas, Phunjo chose to climb Mount Everest on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti, symbolizing her call for world peace.
Phunjo, also the first Nepali female helicopter long-line rescuer, had previously been honored with the Tenzing-Hilary award by the government.
Before embarking on her expedition last month, she expressed her dedication to women’s empowerment, mountain environment protection, and global peace.
Born in the Chhokangpaaro village of Tsum valley in Gorkha, Phunjo has not only conquered Everest but also scaled other peaks, including Mount Manaslu, Mount Cho Oyu, Amdablam, Lobuche, and Denali.
Additionally, she has actively supported rural communities in their livelihood endeavors.
Phunjo Jhangmu Lama’s achievements are truly inspiring, and her commitment to empowering women and protecting the environment is commendable.
