Kami Rita Sherpa achieves a historic 31 climbs of Mount Everest, reinforcing his status as a global mountaineering icon.
Kami Rita Sherpa Breaks Record with 31 Everest Summits
Kami Rita Sherpa Breaks Record with 31 Everest Summits
Nepal's famed mountaineer ascends world's tallest peak once again, marking a new milestone.
Kami Rita Sherpa, a celebrated mountaineer from Nepal, has set a remarkable new record by summiting Mount Everest for the 31st time, surpassing his previous benchmark. The 55-year-old climber reached the peak at 04:00 local time on Tuesday, leading a group of Indian army officials to the summit of 8,894 meters, according to the expedition organizing body, Seven Summit Treks.
Recognized as "Everest Man," Kami Rita is heralded not just within Nepal but globally as a quintessential figure in the mountaineering world. His first ascent of Everest dates back to 1994, and he has consistently made the climb nearly every year. In some years, he has even completed two ascents, including in 2023 and 2024.
His closest contender for this prestigious record is another Nepali climber, Pasang Dawa, who has summited Everest 29 times, with his latest attempt made just last week. Despite his extraordinary achievements, Kami Rita remains humble, emphasizing that while he appreciates the record, his climbs are merely a job. "I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken," he stated to AFP last year. He added that he takes pride in promoting Nepal's recognition on the world stage.
Earlier this month, Kami Rita shared glimpses of life on Everest via social media, including visuals from a Puja ceremony—a traditional Tibetan Buddhist ritual performed before an expedition to pray for safety and success. His recent accomplishment comes shortly after British mountaineer Kenton Cool summited Everest for the 19th time, breaking his own record for non-Sherpas.
This climbing season has seen over 500 climbers successfully reach the top of Everest, amid a backdrop of over 1,000 permits issued by Nepal's tourism department. However, the increasing number of summit attempts has raised concerns about overcrowding and environmental sustainability on the mountain. To address such challenges, authorities have implemented regulations requiring climbers to carry out their waste back to base camp for disposal.
Recognized as "Everest Man," Kami Rita is heralded not just within Nepal but globally as a quintessential figure in the mountaineering world. His first ascent of Everest dates back to 1994, and he has consistently made the climb nearly every year. In some years, he has even completed two ascents, including in 2023 and 2024.
His closest contender for this prestigious record is another Nepali climber, Pasang Dawa, who has summited Everest 29 times, with his latest attempt made just last week. Despite his extraordinary achievements, Kami Rita remains humble, emphasizing that while he appreciates the record, his climbs are merely a job. "I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken," he stated to AFP last year. He added that he takes pride in promoting Nepal's recognition on the world stage.
Earlier this month, Kami Rita shared glimpses of life on Everest via social media, including visuals from a Puja ceremony—a traditional Tibetan Buddhist ritual performed before an expedition to pray for safety and success. His recent accomplishment comes shortly after British mountaineer Kenton Cool summited Everest for the 19th time, breaking his own record for non-Sherpas.
This climbing season has seen over 500 climbers successfully reach the top of Everest, amid a backdrop of over 1,000 permits issued by Nepal's tourism department. However, the increasing number of summit attempts has raised concerns about overcrowding and environmental sustainability on the mountain. To address such challenges, authorities have implemented regulations requiring climbers to carry out their waste back to base camp for disposal.
