A visually impaired (blind) climber from India named Chhonzin Angmo became the first visually impaired woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, making history in the process. Angmo reached the summit with her guide Dandu Sherpa and support climbers Om Bahadur Gurung and Dawa Ongdi Sherpa, according to Nivesh Karki, Managing Director of Pioneer Adventure Pvt. Ltd. Pioneer Adventure Pvt. Ltd. coordinated the expedition with Boots and Crampons.
As part of her acclimatization before her Everest attempt, Angmo successfully climbed Lobuche Peak under the guidance of Dandu Sherpa. Boots and Crampons Chairman Bharath Thammineni affirmed Angmo’s historic accomplishment, highlighting her status as the first woman with visual impairments to reach the top of the world’s highest peak.
Chhonzin Angmo
The 28-year-old climber, who is originally from Himachal Pradesh, is currently employed with Union Bank of India as a Scale-I Officer. When she was eight years old, a severe medication reaction caused her to lose her vision. Angmo was inspired to pursue mountaineering during her school years in Ladakh, and she persisted in doing so in spite of this obstacle.
We used to trek up little mountains in Ladakh. I once heard of a woman who climbed a mountain despite having a leg disability. I was motivated by that, thinking that if she could do it, I could too,” Angmo recalled. She took a beginner’s course in mountaineering in 2016. She has since ascended Kanamo Peak (5,968m) in 2022, Kang Yatse-II (6,250m) in 2023, and an unidentified 6,000-meter peak in India in early 2024. In the fall of 2023, she also finished the Everest Base Camp trek.
Angmo stated, “People in India often say, ‘You can’t do this, you’re visually impaired,’ but I want to prove that we can do anything with support and determination.” There is only support in the mountains, not condemnation. I feel really equal there. Angmo sees her blindness as a strength rather than a weakness. “Mountaineering has strengthened my body and mind.” I learned to be resilient from it. I wish to increase society’s understanding of disabilities and demonstrate that we require support rather than pity.
The expedition’s funding was one of her biggest obstacles. “I have had trouble raising money for the last two to three years. I tried a lot of people, but I didn’t get much assistance,” she said. She eventually received some financial support from her employer, Union Bank of India. “Look at our abilities instead of judging our disability,” she continued.
