In 1993, Dicky Dolma, born in Palchan, India, became the youngest woman to reach the summit of Everest at the age of 19. She has recently voiced criticism of the way in which wealthy people in search of thrills are going against the spirit of adventure sports.
Dolma has described how rich men, lacking any experience in mountaineering, are paying Sherpas to assist them reaching the summit of Everest or other mountains, and described this as a "big blow for the mountaineering fraternity." Her concern is that expeditions like this go against the "spirit of cooperation, self-reliance, confidence or honor for mountains" that comes from "struggle and hard work."
As well as going against the "spirit of cooperation, self-reliance, confidence or honor for mountains" that comes from "struggle and hard work," Dolma is concerned that these wealthy people are compromising the "highly sensitive" mountains themselves, noting that there has been a considerable fall in snow levels since she reached the summit in 1993.
That expedition, 18 years ago, was led by Bachendri Pal. At the time, their plans were ridiculed, and they were seen as a group of "weak women" who stood little chance of achieving what they set out to do. What they demonstrated, though, according to Dolma, was that women are in fact "second to none."
Radha Devi accompanied Dolma on the expedition. She recalls how happy they were when they returned to base camp in the knowledge that Dolma had broken such a major record.
Devi has also described the difficulties they faced, describing how they witnessed people dying, and stating that they now wish to "do something to save the beautiful Himalayas."
Around 3,000 climbers have reached the summit of Mount Everest since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's first ascent in 1953. Nevertheless, melting ice and snow is more likely to be caused by climate change than being a direct result of people climbing the mountain.
Dolma has described how rich men, lacking any experience in mountaineering, are paying Sherpas to assist them reaching the summit of Everest or other mountains, and described this as a "big blow for the mountaineering fraternity." Her concern is that expeditions like this go against the "spirit of cooperation, self-reliance, confidence or honor for mountains" that comes from "struggle and hard work."
As well as going against the "spirit of cooperation, self-reliance, confidence or honor for mountains" that comes from "struggle and hard work," Dolma is concerned that these wealthy people are compromising the "highly sensitive" mountains themselves, noting that there has been a considerable fall in snow levels since she reached the summit in 1993.
That expedition, 18 years ago, was led by Bachendri Pal. At the time, their plans were ridiculed, and they were seen as a group of "weak women" who stood little chance of achieving what they set out to do. What they demonstrated, though, according to Dolma, was that women are in fact "second to none."
Radha Devi accompanied Dolma on the expedition. She recalls how happy they were when they returned to base camp in the knowledge that Dolma had broken such a major record.
Devi has also described the difficulties they faced, describing how they witnessed people dying, and stating that they now wish to "do something to save the beautiful Himalayas."
Around 3,000 climbers have reached the summit of Mount Everest since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's first ascent in 1953. Nevertheless, melting ice and snow is more likely to be caused by climate change than being a direct result of people climbing the mountain.
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