KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 2A 32-year-old woman climber from Rolwaling valley successfully scaled Cho Oyu becoming the first Nepali woman to climb most 8,000m peaks. Nims Purja completes 12 peaks without O2 in 16 months Dawa Yangzum scales 12 peaks, becomes first Nepali woman to climb most 8,000ers First Asian woman IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide Dawa Yangzum Sherpa stood atop Cho Oyu yesterday morning completing her 13th peak above 8,000m, said Mingma Sherpa, managing Director at Climbalaya Expeditions.

Dawa Yangzum is the first Nepali woman to climb most 8,000m peaks and she is on her mission to be the first Nepali woman to complete all 14 peaks.

Earlier this year, Dawa Yangzum scaled three peaks in Pakistan in just 16 days - G1 on July 21, G2 on July 17 and Nanga Parbat on July 5 – completing her 12th 8000er.Meanwhile, two American women climbers successfully scaled Mt Cho Oyu from the Tibetan side completing their 13th 8000er as they wanted to be first American woman to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000m. Anna Gutu Anna Gutu from the Elite Exped/Imagine Nepal Treks stood atop Cho Oyu this morning while Gina Marie Han-Lee from Climbalaya/8K Expeditions scaled the mountain yesterday morning.

"Both women are in a race to become the first American women to successfully scale all 14 peaks above 8,000 m," base camp officials said. Gina Marie Anna Gutu has climbed most of the mountains with Elite Exped while Gina climbed G-I, G-II and Nanga Parbat with 8K expeditions this year.

Till date, only two American climbers - Christopher Bernard Warner and Ed Viesturs - climbed all 14 peaks till date.Among other climbers, Dawa Yangzum, Anna and Gina will head for Shishapangma to complete all 14 peaks by next week, officials said. .

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