Nearly 50 years back, a group of Japanese women, known as the Japanese Women’s Everest Expedition (JWEE), encountered an avalanche while attempting to climb Mount Everest. On May 4, 1975, just days from reaching the summit, they faced this dangerous situation.
Despite the challenges, they persevered. Junko Tabei, a member of the team, made history as the first woman to reach the peak. Reflecting on her experience in her biography, she mentioned feeling an unbreakable bond with the mountains.
Led by Eikohino, the team comprised 15 women from various backgrounds. In the same month of 1975, they followed the route taken by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
The avalanche hit their camp at around 20,700 feet (6,300 meters), trapping Tabei and five others under snow. Miraculously, no injuries were sustained, but Tabei was left unconscious until her Sherpa team members rescued her. After a couple of days’ rest and recovery, she continued the ascent.
Initially, the plan was to send two climbers to the summit, but complications arose when one woman fell ill. Consequently, Ms. Hisano suggested that Tabei proceed alone.
On May 16, 1975, Tabei reached the summit alongside her Sherpa guide, Ang Tsering, making her the 36th woman, and the first overall, to achieve this remarkable feat.
Who was Junko Tabei?
Born on September 22, 1939, in Michal, near Fukushima, Japan, Tabei discovered her passion for hiking at just 11 years old. She graduated from Shota Women’s University in Tokyo in 1962 and achieved her Mount Everest milestone in 1975. Shortly after her historic climb, she established the Joshi-Tohan Club, aimed at empowering women in climbing.
In response to the tragic earthquake in Japan in 2001, she initiated annual trips for children to explore Mount Fuji. Tabei also founded the Himalayan Adventure Fund, focusing on environmental preservation.
Over her life, she authored seven books between 1996 and 2008 and conquered at least 70 of the world’s highest peaks. Tabei passed away in 2016 at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy with her inspiring motto: “Don’t give up, continue your quest.”
