January 08

Fanny Bullock Workman was one of the first women to explore the Himalayas, joining expeditions with her husband and making groundbreaking ascents. In 1906 she set a world altitude record for a woman by climbing Pinnacle Peak. As a geographer and cartographer, she conducted detailed surveys of glaciers and mountain passes, publishing influential maps and scholarly articles. She wrote several bestselling travel books, including Peaks and Passes of the Alps and Sikkim Himalaya. Workman used her platform to advocate for women's rights and challenged societal norms, earning respect in scientific and mountaineering circles. Her meticulous notes, drawings, and photographs significantly expanded Western knowledge of the region's geography and inspired future generations of explorers.