![Junko Tabei climbs Somoni Peak (7495m), formerly known as Communism Peak, in 1985. [Photo] Jaan Kunnap](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/junko-tabei-obit-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
Junko Tabei, first woman to summit Everest, dies at 77
Junko Tabei was more than the first woman to summit the highest peak on Earth, she was a trailblazer for women in the mountains, a leader for the environment and a person who actively invested in her community all the way up until her death from cancer on October 20.
![From Conrad Anker's The City and The Blade in Alpinist 38. Mugs Stump on the Spanish Pillar of Meru North (6450m) in 1988. [Photo] Steve Quinlan](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/mugs-1.jpg?resize=540%2C354&ssl=1)
![The South Face of Brammah II (6425) with Chris Gibisch and Jeff Shapiro's route, Pneuma (VI AI4, M5, 1300m), and bivy site are marked in red. [Photo] Chris Gibisch](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-route-on-the-south-face-of-brammah-ii-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
![Josie McKee leading the last block to the top of Lost Arrow Spire on Day 2. [Photo] Quinn Brett](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tour-de-ditch-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
![Masha Gordon of the UK is the founder of The Grit & Rock First Ascent Expedition Award [Photo] Masha Gordon collection](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-climbing-grant-for-female-first-ascents-1-1.jpg?resize=742%2C620&ssl=1)
![Topo of Nick Bullock and Paul Ramsden's North Buttress route (ED+ 1600m) on Nyainqentangla South East. Their descent on the east ridge is marked in green. [Photo] Nick Bullock](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/british-alpinists-1-1.jpg?resize=768%2C620&ssl=1)
![Marc-Andre Leclerc leads one of the pitches of the unrepeated six-pitch ice runnel in the bottom half of Titanic (7b M5 WI4 950m) on Torre Egger (2850m) during his all-free two-day ascent. [Photo] Austin Siadak](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1-ice-runnel.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
![Swiss climber Dani Arnold free solos the Via Carlesso (7a+ or 5.12a 650m) on Torre Trieste (2458m) in Italy's Dolomite spires. [Photo] Dani Arnold collection](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/dani-arnold-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
![Tears of the Dragon (Russian Grade 6B, A3 M5, 1150m) marks the second ascent of the Great Wall (5120m) via the northeast face. [Photo] Team archive](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/great-wall-route.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)