Trainees observe as instructors at the 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking Co. provide lessons on climbing a rock surface in Pokhara, Nepal, on March 2, 2014. When Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chettri tried to break into Nepal's male-dominated trekking industry 20 years ago, competitors tried to run them out of business. Men threatened them, harassed them - even filed bogus police reports against them. Photo: AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha /MCT
POKHARA, Nepal - When the Chettri sisters started a trekking company 20 years ago, it wasn't easy.

"The men said this is a business for the men and we should leave it alone," said Lucky Chettri. She is the eldest sister in the 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking Co. ######

The men threatened the women and bullied them. They even falsely accused the sisters of stealing." They would even accuse us of trying to take away food from their table," Lucky said.

###### They have a waiting list of Nepalese women who want to join their training program and become mountain guides.

The success of the Chettri sisters is a symbol of the increasing influence of women in Nepal. In many ways, though, men still have most of the power in Nepal.

Progress Is Happening

###### But it took another 40 years before the first Nepali woman reached the mountain's peak. Since then, women have made progress in politics, education and business.

In 1990, about 5 percent of Nepali politicians were female. ###### Some laws that discriminate against women have been changed. One especially unfair law let only sons inherit their parents' property.

The number of women in trekking and mountaineering has risen as well, said Shailee Basnet. ###### She said the rising number of women guides is due to the Chettri sisters.

"They have started a trend for women to take up this profession. Women guiding foreign trekkers in the region has become a normal thing now," she said.]]>