Everest has never felt closer to the six-member Singapore Women's Everest Team.

As the year ends, the team is savouring two high points – they have just finished their practice climbs and, more significantly, they are on their way to the world’s highest peak.

Last month, the National Association of Travel Agents announced a title sponsorship for the first attempt by an all-woman Singaporean team to conquer Everest. It has been a roller-coaster year for its members: student development officer Jane Lee, 24; training facilitator Sim Yihui, 26; pharmaceutical-product specialist Lee Lihui, 27; business owner Joanne Soo, 38; army officer Lee Peh Gee, 32; and copywriter Esther Tan, 26, whose hopes of climbing Everest this year were quashed by funding woes.

"We're really thankful for the sponsorship," said team leader Lee. "We managed to use new technical skills in this challenging ascent."

She spoke with my paper on a bumpy 14-hour journey back to the city centre of Sichuan from the base of Camel Mountain (5,484m). Four team members had reached its summit on Sunday and two scaled Naya Kanga (5,844m) in Nepal earlier this month.

Their 2009 highlight? Hopefully, Everest's 8,848m peak by next May.

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