Kinnaur woman who conquered Everest now leads walk for resilience
Shimla — From the death zone of Mount Everest to the heritage corridors of Shimla, Chhonzin Angmo is proving that grit doesn’t retire after a summit.
The world’s first visually-impaired woman Everester, hailing from Chango village in Kinnaur, flagged off a Walkathon in Shimla on 24 November 2025 as part of Audit Week celebrations of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD).
Hundreds of officers and staff walked from Chadwick House (Audit Museum), AIR Colony Summerhill, to AG Office, Gorton Castle — and the energy stayed electric throughout the route.
Angmo didn’t just inaugurate. She led the walk.
This wasn’t a ceremonial flag-off. It was a message — “Don’t just admire inspiration, walk with it.”
Beyond the peak — a new mission
At the Gorton Castle finale of the event, Angmo was felicitated. But instead of basking in applause, she flipped the spotlight to a bigger idea — mental fitness, resilience, and work-life balance.
She spoke of climbing Everest, cross-State cycling and her next goal — the Seven Summits of the world. But the line that hit the audience hardest was borrowed from her idol Helen Keller:
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”
It wasn’t about disability. It was about purpose — for everyone, including professionals working in high-stress government roles.
The new angle
While India celebrates Angmo as the Everest wonder, the walkathon revealed a less-seen side of her journey — her transition from achiever to mentor.
Her message wasn’t about mountains, but about offices, families, deadlines and burnout. She connected mountaineering discipline with professional life, meticulous planning, risk preparedness, teamwork, physical and mental fitness, balance between career and well-being.
In short, she brought corporate wellness lessons from 8,848 metres above sea level.
Why this moment matters
Chhonzin Angmo isn’t just inspiring youth or sportspersons anymore. She is becoming a voice for resilience across professional and institutional spaces.
Kinnaur gave her altitude. Everest gave her fame.
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