Remembering Junko Tabei

The first woman to climb Mount Everest, Junko Tabei, died on October 20 at the age of 77.

Tabei received the Club's Distinguished Achievement Award in 2014.

The Fukushima Prefecture native led an all-female expedition to scale Everest in 1975.

Despite being buried in an avalanche during the climb, Tabei persevered and reached the summit of the 8,848-meter peak on May 16.

In an interview with the Club's INTOUCH magazine, Tabei explained her ongoing passion for climbing and the great outdoors.

"I'd like to inspire people to have many experiences in nature, not with computers, but feeling the wind, the coolness, the smells of the earth with their five senses," she said.