Five members of 1st Inclusive Women Expedition scale Mt Everest Five Members of First

Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008 have successfully climbed the Mt. Everest on Thursday, a press release issued by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation said.

Susmita Maskey, Maya Gurung, Nwang Phuti Sherpa, Pemba Diki Sherpa and Poojan Acharya were among the 10 members of the expedition to the world's tallest peak (8848 m).

Five high altitude workers from the team - Pemba Dorje Sherpa, Kaji Sherpa, Phurba Tenzing Sherpa, Ang Gelu Sherpa and Karma Gyelije Sherpa - also climbed the peak today.

The First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008 team was permitted to climb the Mt. Everest from the normal route for the period of 75 days from April 16, 2008 under the leadership of Susmita Maskey. The team had set out to the Everest Came camp on April 14.

The government had waived all royalties equivalent to US$ 100,000 to the team and also granted financial assistance of Rs 1 million to this team.

This was the biggest all-Nepali women expedition to the Everest. The main objective of the expedition was to draw the world's attention to gender equality, women empowerment and the effects of climate change in the Himalayas. nepalnews.com mk May 22 08