As I stand at the base of the Himalayas, the cold wind touches my cheeks. Looking up at the towering snow-covered peaks, I remember an eight-year-old girl from Goljungbesi, Rasuwa—a little girl with dreams bigger than her village. That girl was me—Parvati Joshi, a simple farmer’s daughter, whose life was about to change in ways no one expected.
The First Step of Courage
In our small wooden hut, it wasn’t just my family that lived; my strong desire to learn lived there too. In our society, education was for boys. While they carried books to school, girls stayed home, learning household chores. But I refused to accept this.
One morning, my life changed forever. My mother was leaving for the fields, and I was supposed to take care of my younger brother. But that day, I made a bold choice. I told my mother, “I will come later,” and ran toward the school. That was my first day in a classroom.
The teacher gave me 250 rupees and told me to come to school regularly. When I gave that money to my mother, the look in her eyes is something I will never forget. That money could have fed us, but instead, it fueled my hunger for education.
Climbing the Mountain of Challenges
Mornings at school, evenings filled with housework—cutting grass, collecting firewood, looking after my siblings. Still, I never gave up my studies. I wasn’t the best student, but I had strong determination.
In grade nine, life became more difficult. I fell seriously ill. The nearest health post was an hour’s walk away, and we had no money for treatment in Kathmandu. Seeing my mother’s worried face and our family’s struggles, I lost hope. One day, in my sadness, I tried to take poison.
When I woke up in Dhunche Hospital, my mother was crying. That moment changed me. I realized that giving up was not an option.
A New Beginning
After failing mathematics in my SLC exams, I traveled to Kathmandu for a retake. With the help of a kind sister, I reached Pokhara and found a place at the Three Sisters Hostel. There, I learned rock climbing, yoga, and improved my Nepali. More importantly, I discovered my true love—mountains and trekking.
The journey from Pokhara to Rasuwa for my exam was unforgettable. I had no transport, so I hitchhiked and squeezed into crowded buses. Somehow, I made it in time and, to my surprise, I passed.
Becoming a Trekking Guide
In 2011, I worked as a porter for the first time on the Pokhara-Helambu trek. That was when I knew—this was my path.
I didn’t speak English well, and people didn’t believe a woman could be a trekking guide. But I didn’t let these challenges stop me.
In 2014, I earned my trekking guide license. Leading my first group to Annapurna Base Camp was one of the proudest moments of my life. Since then, I have led many treks across Nepal’s mountains.
Mountaineering wasn’t easy either. I fell sick many times. In 2016, I completed my basic training, but I got sick again before my advanced training. Watching my friends move ahead while I stayed behind was painful. But I didn’t give up. In 2019, I completed my advanced training, followed by the Mountain Leader Course and the Khumbu Ice Climbing Advanced Training.