Fifty years ago, Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Everest – why do so few people know her story? – Famagusta Gazette

Fifty years ago, Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Everest – why do so few people know her story? – Famagusta Gazette

Jenny Hall, York St John University It was May 4 1975. The Japanese Women’s Everest Expedition team had been living at a high altitude for six weeks, and were less than a week away from their scheduled bid for the summit of Mount Everest. Exhausted, having established camp five at just below 8,000m on the south side of the mountain, Junko Tabei and her team descended to camp two at 6,300m to rest. Then – avalanche! In the early hours, tons of ic…