ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Diya TV) — Harpreet and Navneet Cheema, a married couple from Ann Arbor, have etched their names in history by becoming the first married couple from Michigan to summit Mount Everest. Their achievement is further distinguished by their status as the first Sikh couple to reach the world’s highest peak.
Since 2019, the Cheemas have been avid mountaineers, conquering five of the seven summits, including Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Denali. Their latest expedition to Mount Everest was a testament to their dedication and rigorous preparation. “I think we are the eighth couple in the world to have done this,” said Navneet.
The journey up the mountain has been a combination of physical exercise and emotional stamina. The Indian American couple spent 43 days in Mount Everest going through dangerous paths, at times just 18 inches in size, with deep drops on both sides. Harpreet described these parts as “the ridgeline and it falls miles down.”
One of the poignant moments was when they came across a fellow climber from Kenya who had died near the summit. Harpreet narrated, “I was shivering because I saw his dead body, and it was clipped onto the rope that we were on, and we had to bypass.”
Besides their own personal achievement, the Cheemas made a monumental cultural contribution to the world when they hoisted the Nishan Sahib, the flag of the Sikh community, atop Mount Everest, making it the first time a Nishan Sahib has ever been placed atop the peak.
Reflecting on what they had done, Navneet said that “for as much as he had traveled; all he kept saying was that we should just be good for goodness’ sake.” She addressed the founder of Sikhism who, according to faith, journeyed through much worse terrain half a millennium back.
The Cheemas’ journey is a testament to the deep connection between their faith and their mountaineering pursuits. Harpreet said, “There’s lots that faith can do to help you climb the mountain, and we knew we were carrying it with us, and it will take us to the top and bring us safely down.”
