Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) today bade a farewell to Ms. Lhakpa Sherpa, who is attempting the historic 10th successful Mt. Everest ascent.

NMA president Mr. Santa Bir Lama bade her farewell offering khada and handed over the NMA flag amid a function organized at NMA secretariat Nagpokhari Naxal, Kathmandu. A 48-year-old Nepali female climber will hoist the NMA flag at the top of the world. 

Ms. Lakpa is the first and only woman to successfully ascend Mt. Everest 9th time in the world. No other woman in the world has scaled the peak so many times till date.

She will leave Kathmandu next month for the expedition. ‘‘I want to inspire today’s youth and women’’, a daring Lhakpa who landed Nepal last Friday from USA for her new adventure said, ‘‘Nepali women are hardworking and can do anything they want.’’

Born in Makalu VDC of Sankhuwasabha, she had stood atop the summit of the world’s highest mountain for the 1st time in 2000 from the Nepal side. This will be her only second time ascending Mt. Everest from the Nepal side.

This time she has other plans too. ‘‘I am following the old style of climbing that Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmond Hilary had followed to step at the top of the world for the very first time’’, she revealed.

That means she will travel to Solukhumbu headquarter Sallery first then will start trekking towards the basecamp with the help of porters. 

NMA president Lama wished her success. ‘‘This is our privilege to have you here. I, personally and on behalf of the NMA family, wish you all the very best for your historic achievement’’, he said.

General Secretary Mr. Kul Bahadur Gurung, Secretary Mr. Tikaram Gurung, Secretariat members Mr. Vinaya Shakya, Mr. Dipendra Pandey, Mr. Shiva Bahadur Sapkota, board members Mr. Sanjiv Gurung, Mr. Sarki Tamang also bade her farewell with the khada.