Presenting Luckme Tamang, the 2024 Charlie Noxon Scholarship Recipient

Jan 4

2025 is here, so fast! Where did that last year go??? Well, we have an announcement to make about 2024, so let’s spin back the hand of time for a moment before we take off into 2025.

Each year, Musa Masala presents scholarships for students we feel represent the ideas and mission of our organization. We already posted about our four Wilderness First Responder students who received Gary McLean scholarships for their course with Initiative Outdoors and Chandra Ale.

Now we would like to present the recipient of the Charlie Noxon Scholarship for 2024, Luckme Tamang.

Luckme Tamang is a mountain and trekking guide in Nepal. She applied for a scholarship to complete her certification with the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association. The IFMGA is the international umbrella federation for mountain guide associations. They set the standards for the training of mountain guides who manage risk for their clients. Once completed, Luckme will be the second woman in Nepal (and South Asia) with this certification.

We feel this is an important step for women in Nepal. More women are entering the trekking and climbing industry and representation is important. We normally work and educate more on the medical side, but Luckme’s dedication to helping women succeed outdoors and her future plans make her an excellent choice for the future of safety, health and equality in the mountains.

Here is a partial list of Luckme’s accomplishments:

1. Wilderness First Responder

2. Mountain Medicine Training Level 1

3. Rock level one (NMIA)

4. Basic Mountaineering Training (NMA)

5. Advanced Mountaineering Training (NMA)

6. High Mountain Rescue Training, and Helicopter Marshall Course, (NMIA)

7. Liaison Officer Training, (Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management)

8. Interactive Suicide Prevention First Responder Training, (NRNA)

9. Assistant Instructor at the Khumbu Climbing Center, The Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation.

Partial climbing resume:

Mt. Everest

Mt. Ama Dablam

Mt. Cholatse (first Nepalese woman)

Multiple summits of Loboche, Mera Peak, Island Peak

Just this summer, Luckme was part of a team opening new rock climbing routes in Manang/Chame.

Luckme has teamed up with the Peak XV Foundation to teach introduction clinics for new and aspiring climbers. She is a member of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, the Everest Summiteers Association, and Margadarshan, a youth organization. She is often a guest speaker at events and schools, and her message is one of inclusion for everyone and how to motivate young women who are hesitant to head out into the wilderness.

*Luckme Tamang teaching at a introduction to climbing class at Astrek Climbing Wall in Kathmandu sponsored by Peak XV Foundation*

With the scholarship, Luckme Tamang has completed her Aspirant Guide Course, Component II and III. The IFMGA is a strenuous program that must be completed within six years. The amount of training, both hands on, and lecture, with enormous in the field work, (a logbook of requirements ) make this the pinnacle of excellence for a mountain guide.

Luckme has a mission to expand the number of women safely traveling and working in the mountains, to make it fun for everyone. She understands that education opens the door for experience and we are all in every step of the way. We are so proud to be a part of her journey and look forward to working with her. Congratulations, Luckme, Jam Jam!!