Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei's successful summit of Mount Everest, the first by a woman, was an important milestone in women empowerment, Nepal's trekking community today said in its condolence message on her death.
Junko, 77, died on Thursday while undergoing treatment for cancer in abdomen, that was detected four years ago.
Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) said it has been deeply shocked and saddened by Junko's demise.
Her Everest summit of May 1975 inspired many women across the world, including Nepali women, who are now actively involved with mountaineering sector, TAAN said in a statement.
"Before Tabei's successful summit, the mountaineering sector was regarded as a domain of men," it said and called her achievement "an important milestone in women empowerment."
"After her successful summit, Tabei actively involved in environment conservation and socio-economic development of remote mountain areas in different parts of Nepal.
"She was a real ambassador of the Nepali tourism industry, always encouraging others to visit Nepal. She always supported programmes and activities organised by the mountaineering fraternity of Nepal," the association said.
Junko had visited Nepal last year for an event related to mountaineering.
Born in 1939 in Miharu, she became the first woman to complete the "Seven Summits," reaching the highest peaks of the seven continents in 1992.
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