Female Team Successfully Summits Lobuche Peak Under Women’s Leadership Training Programme

A 15-member female expedition team successfully summited Lobuche Peak (6,119m) on July 2, 2026, marking another significant milestone for women's participation in Nepal's mountaineering industry. The expedition was conducted as part of the Female Leadership Academy of the Global Inclusive Adventure Organisation (GIA), a programme designed to develop female leadership, technical mountaineering skills, and professional guiding opportunities.

The expedition was led by renowned Nepali climber Fur Diki Sherpa, with support from assistant guides Manmaya Tamang and Sangita Tamang. The climbing team consisted of 12 female participants, while Lakpa Wangchu Sherpa served as the team's only male climbing guide, providing technical support throughout the expedition.

The successful ascent demonstrated not only the participants' climbing abilities but also the growing presence of women in Nepal's high-altitude mountaineering community. Completing the climb during the off-season made the achievement even more remarkable, highlighting the team's resilience, preparation, and determination.

Following the successful expedition, GIA organised a certificate distribution ceremony on Wednesday at Utpala Cafe, Boudha, to honour both the Lobuche Peak summit team and ten women who successfully completed the 4th Fundamentals of Mountaineering Training, held from June 22 to July 6, 2026. The training programme was organised by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) with support from GIA.

Certificates were presented by NMA President Phur Gelje Sherpa, who praised the participants for their dedication and encouraged more women to pursue careers in Nepal's mountaineering sector.

Speaking at the event, Phur Gelje Sherpa said opportunities for aspiring mountaineers were once extremely limited, particularly for women. However, he noted that increasing support from organisations and experienced climbers has made professional training more accessible.

He reaffirmed the Nepal Mountaineering Association's commitment to supporting individuals who wish to build careers in mountaineering and contribute to Nepal's globally renowned mountain tourism industry.

The participants described the expedition as a life-changing experience that boosted both their confidence and professional ambitions.

Srijana Tamang, one of the successful climbers, said summiting a 6,000-metre peak had been her long-held dream.

"I had always wanted to climb a 6,000-metre mountain but never had the opportunity. Through the Female Leadership Academy, I finally achieved that dream. Although we were a large team, everyone remained strong and motivated. Successfully reaching the summit during the off-season has given me confidence that no goal is impossible if we continue moving forward."

Participant Kritika Prajuli also expressed her gratitude to GIA and the expedition leaders.

"Without GIA, my dream of climbing Lobuche Peak would not have become a reality. The guidance, experience, and leadership of Fur Diki Sherpa and Lakpa Wangchu Sherpa made this expedition possible. I am sincerely thankful for their encouragement and support."

Another participant, Kanchan Pariyar, who hopes to become a professional mountain guide, said the programme had opened new opportunities for her future career.

"The weather was challenging throughout the expedition, but conditions improved just in time for our summit push. We were fortunate that every member reached the summit safely without any major incidents. This experience has strengthened my determination to become a mountain guide, and I am grateful to GIA for providing this opportunity."

The training programme was intentionally designed as a predominantly female-led initiative, allowing participants to gain hands-on experience in expedition planning, mountain leadership, teamwork, technical climbing, and high-altitude decision-making.

The programme was jointly coordinated by Maya Gurung and Shailee Basnet, General Secretary of the Female Leadership Academy.

Basnet explained that Global Inclusive Adventure Organisation (GIA) was established in 2008 by a group of Nepali women who had successfully summited Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), with the vision of creating greater opportunities for women in adventure tourism and mountaineering.

"When we started, there were very few women involved in mountaineering, especially as professional guides," Basnet said. "Although female participation has gradually increased over the years, women remain significantly underrepresented in guiding and leadership positions. Creating more training opportunities and career pathways for women is essential for the future of Nepal's mountain tourism industry."

She added that over the past four years, the organisation has implemented programmes in trekking, mountaineering, outdoor leadership, computer skills, and tourism entrepreneurship, benefiting more than 100 women.

"Our goal is not only to train women but also to help them build sustainable careers as trekking guides, mountain guides, and outdoor leaders. We want to see more women taking leadership roles in Nepal's adventure tourism sector."

The Female Leadership Academy previously organised a successful Paldor Peak expedition in 2025, while Fur Diki Sherpa has led female expeditions to Lobuche Peak, Paldor Peak, and Himlung Himal, inspiring more women to pursue careers in high-altitude mountaineering.

Expressing her pride after the successful summit, expedition leader Fur Diki Sherpa said leading women climbers is one of the most rewarding parts of her career.

"I feel incredibly proud to guide and lead women in the mountains. Every successful expedition proves that women are equally capable of becoming strong climbers and professional mountain guides. I hope more young women will choose mountaineering as a career."

She further emphasised that Nepal's growing mountaineering industry must provide greater access to training, field experience, mentorship, and employment opportunities for women.

"We still have very few female mountain guides in Nepal. If we continue investing in women's training and leadership development, we can build a stronger, more inclusive mountaineering community while creating new employment opportunities for future generations."

The successful Lobuche Peak expedition stands as another important step toward increasing female participation in Nepal's adventure tourism and mountaineering sector, demonstrating that with proper training, mentorship, and opportunity, women can continue breaking barriers on some of the world's highest mountains.