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However, this does not deter Lakpa and her companions. She refuses even to think of issues such as poor weather conditions and physical fatigue standing in their way.

The climbers cannot imagine the expedition's outcome as anything but successful.

"Maybe it's plain ignorance," Mingma says. "If I were educated, I would probably not think of climbing Everest because I could read all about the dangers of such an attempt. Most Sherpas who have set records on Everest are uneducated. Sundari Sherpa, Kaji Sherpa, Babu Chiri Sherpa -- they are all uneducated. Babu Tsering can write his name but he hasn't attended high school."

Are the women driven by similar dreams for themselves? Where does this drive stem from?

Do they represent a new generation of savvy Sherpas who understand the commercial value of Everest unlike their potato-growing and yak-rearing fathers who were content with their lives in the pastoral highlands of the Khumbu valley?

Is it a result of innumerable western expeditions over four decades carving routes through their villages up to Everest?

As April 7th, the day of departure, draws nearer will the expectations of Asian Trekking, the Sushma Koirala Trust and an entire nation weigh heavily on the four women? Will the camaraderie they have experienced in Kathmandu continue? Will their belief in their inevitable success see them through?

The film will explore the dynamics of the team. Lakpa, the leader, is not as experienced or knowledgeable as Mingma. This will be her first time at Everest Base Camp. Will this create conflicts within the team and hamper the leader's ability to play her role?

They will undergo intensive training in Langtang with two Sherpas who have successfully climbed Everest as instructors. How will the women interact with them? Will they develop an ability to make crucial decisions while on Everest?

What kind of advantages do the Sherpa women climbers have over others, in physical strength and endurance, from living at high altitudes and also from being familiar with the terrain they are attempting? More importantly, will they have the strength of mind to deal with challenges they face in the upper reaches of the world's highest peak?

"My brothers keep telling me that we women won't make it, that Everest requires great strength of mind. At that high altitude, even to pick up a pair of sunglasses right next to you requires so much effort," Lakpa says.

"We'll prove them wrong."

Treatment and Style

The scenic beauty of the Himalayan region contrasts with the harsh realities of the Sherpa community's existence as high altitude porters. The women's interpretation of the expedition and their world will unfold through extensive interviews, glimpses of the team in training, in worship, at work and at play.

This film contains elements of both traditional and cinema verité documentary. The film explores the women's histories especially the reasons why they joined the expedition. Interviews with each member at different stages in the journey help to expand on their thoughts and experiences, while brief on the spot interviews capture their feelings in the midst of a situation.

Over the course of the film, we come to understand each woman's character, her personal and cultural beliefs. We observe their interactions with one another as they choose roles for themselves within the team. The film culminates with the outcome of the team's efforts on their summit attempt.

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