The Widows of Everest
The women overcoming stereotypes to climb Everest
Mount Everest is the ultimate mountaineering challenge. Sherpa men die in disproportionate numbers, leaving behind widows who struggle to survive. Forced to become breadwinners, some women are defying tradition by breaking into the male-dominated world of Himalayan climbing. Taking on Everest is part of a larger battle to overcome centuries of discrimination against women who have lost their husbands to the mountain. 101 East meets the Sherpa widows defying tradition to conquer the world’s highest mountain.