I reach Lhakpa Sherpa's apartment at noon on a Sunday. She runs out of the front door, hugs me, and1me inside. The2apartment is dimly lit. The living room has a few chairs, and a wall of sports medals from her two daughters' gymnastic3.
Lhakpa was the first Nepalese woman to climb up Everest(珠穆朗玛峰)and back 4, which she5in the spring of 2000. With nine summits(登顶),she holds the world record for6.
During the interview, I'm7by her achievements - but also her8of resources. How is it that a woman with such9achievement and skill is without sponsorship, and must risk10to continue to climb the Himalayan mountains she loves?
She currently works at Whole Foods washing dishes,11minimum wage. Unable to12or drive a car, she walks to work and13takes an Uber to training destinations. "Climbing is my14out of washing dishes," Lhakpa tells me. "It is also the way to make a better life for the15. Besides washing dishes, she is often16to inspire others, particularly women and single parents.
Her17is to climb Everest again in May 2020, followed by K2, a mountain whose summit she once tried to reach but18because of bad weather. She knows this plan is ambitious,19not crazy.
"Actually, all extreme20are crazy" she says. "But I want to show the world I can do it. I want to show women who look like me that they can do it, too."
