Shillong, June 21: A hero’s welcome was accorded to Refiiness Warjri, the NCC cadet and third woman from Meghalaya to conquer Mount Everest, upon her arrival at Shillong Airport, Umroi on Saturday.
Warjri summited the “top of the world” on May 18, 2025, around 4:00 AM.
“That moment was more than a personal victory – it was for the NCC, my state, my family, and for every girl or boy who dares to dream,” said Warjri, who is part of the 61 Meghalaya Girls Bn NCC.
Her journey to scale Everest (8,848.86 m) was deeply rooted in her involvement with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in her school days.
She joined as a junior wing cadet of National Cadet Corps (NCC) at Auxilium School and continued as a senior wing cadet at St Anthony’s College.
Her path to Everest was forged through rigorous training, including a Pre-Everest Expedition to Mount Abi Garmin (7,355 m) and a Basic Mountaineering Course at HMI Darjeeling, where she honed skills in rock craft, ice climbing, and rescue techniques.
The ultimate test of endurance came during winter training at Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield, where she faced temperatures of -40°C and learned to survive in snow caves.
Successful climbs of Renok Peak (16,500 ft) in Sikkim and Lobuche Peak (6,199 m) in Nepal further tested her limits. Warjri recounts Lobuche as particularly challenging, battling intense pain and fear throughout an all-night ascent, but her unwavering focus on the goal prevented her from giving up.
From 17 lakh cadets nationwide, only 10 (five girls and five boys) were ultimately selected for the Everest expedition, with Warjri proudly among them.
The final ascent began on April 11, 2025, from Lukla, trekking through challenging terrain to reach Everest Base Camp (EBC) on April 19. The summit push commenced on May 14.
Warjri described the “Death Zone” climb as terrifying, starting in darkness at 7 PM amidst silence and wind. She witnessed the harsh realities of the mountain, including multiple deceased climbers and one in their final breaths, and the desperate value of water in such extreme conditions.
At the summit, she captured a few photos, offered a prayer, and gazed at the horizon, realizing she was “above the clouds.”
The most emotional moment came when she called her parents after the climb, crying as she declared, “I did it.” “It felt like I had brought pride to the Country and my state Meghalaya to the top of the world,” she expressed.
Warjri extended her deepest gratitude to the NCC for helping her realise her potential, acknowledging that she never imagined a girl from a small village with no mountaineering background could achieve such a feat.
She also thanked her expedition leaders, Col Amit Bisht and Col Rajneesh Joshi, her teammates, the brave sherpas, her supportive parents, and God.
In her message to the youth of Meghalaya, Warjri said, “Never be afraid to dream big. Focus on that dream with all your heart, and work tirelessly to make it a reality. No matter where you come from, your dreams are valid, and your potential is limitless. With determination, discipline, and faith, there is no summit too high, no dream too big for us to achieve.”
