In particular, the carrying capacity provided by Sherpas enables an expedition to use “the relatively short and unreliable period of transition between monsoonal snow storms and high-altitude gales” (1) in the post-monsoon season with maximum efficiency. The use of oxygen and a relatively small number (six) of Sherpas were planned to increase both safety and probability of a successful climb. Our climb was sponsored by the American Alpine Club and supported by the National Geographic Society and Johnson & Johnson, the makers of OB tampons (the unexpected advantage of an all-women team). In the beginning we ordered a few dozen T-shirts with a slogan “A Woman’s Place is on Top … Annapurna” … about $60,000 worth of shirts were sold. We hope this climb will give a number of women sufficient experience so that they can be invited on mixed expeditions, or organize their own.”Ī year was spent raising the $80,000 we would need for the climb in this effort we were aided by many volunteers.
“No American woman has ever climbed to 8000 meters, and only seven women from any country have ever climbed that high.
“Few American women ever get a chance to climb that high, to lead, or even to participate in a major expedition,” Arlene Blum would say. CLIMBING ANNAPURNA sounds reasonable, but why all women?” people ask.
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