May 22

Pemba Doma Sherpa was born in 1970 in the Khumbu region of Nepal and began her mountaineering career as a high-altitude porter. She became one of the first Sherpa women to secure multiple ascents of Mount Everest, reaching the summit six times. Doma was celebrated for her strength, skill, and dedication to her community, often volunteering to help other climbers in need. She advocated for the empowerment of women in the traditionally male-dominated Sherpa community. Doma also completed climbs of other Himalayan peaks and participated in rescue operations. She died in an avalanche on Mount Everest on May 22, 2007, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by high-altitude climbers.

Dervla Murphy was born in Lismore, County Waterford, in 1931 and developed a passion for exploration early in life. In 1963, she embarked on a groundbreaking solo bicycle journey from Ireland to India, documented in her first book, Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle. Over her long career, she wrote more than 20 travel books, chronicling expeditions through the Himalayas, East Africa, and the Middle East. Murphy's unflinching honesty, vivid observations, and respect for local cultures endeared her to readers worldwide. She preferred traveling unaccompanied and on a shoestring budget, immersing herself in the daily lives of the people she encountered. Her work inspired generations of cyclists and adventurers to seek authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences. Despite health challenges later in life, she continued writing and advocating for environmental causes. Murphy's fearless spirit and literary contributions have left a lasting mark on travel literature.