Daring to Dream: Sherpa Women Climbing K2

Klatzel tells the story of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita, Maya Sherpa, and Dawa Yangzum Sherpa as they struggled with their own decisions on climbing K2, the mountainous obstacles overcome to raise the necessary funds, and the challenging journey and climb.

More than an account of climbing, the book tells the story of three women determined to achieve their dreams. It tells of their perseverance in facing the endless challenges from mounds of bureaucracy to the treacherous slopes of the mountain. Dawa, Maya, and Pasang are role models to inspire women in Nepal and around the world.

Daring to climb the most dangerous of the world’s high peaks, three determined Sherpa women set out in June 2014 on an expedition to K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, in Pakistan’s Karakorum range.

Pasang, Maya, and Dawa were all experienced climbing instructors and guides who had already climbed Everest. When they wanted to climb K2, family and friends asked why they would want to take such risks on ‘the killer mountain’.

“We wanted to show women that if you just follow your dreams, even as a woman, you can do anything. Nothing is impossible,” says Pasang.

This book is geared toward younger readers but is the only one to document this ascent, which was called the First Nepalese Women’s K2 Expedition 2014. Some controversy emerged following the climb as it was claimed to be the first all-female ascent despite the presence of four male Sherpas accompanying the women. However, it is not uncommon on K2 for various groups to merge together on the difficult summit day.