Kami Rita Sherpa, a renowned Nepali climber fondly dubbed the "Everest Man," has made history by summiting Mount Everest for the astonishing 31st time, outpacing his own previous record. At 55 years old, he achieved this feat early Tuesday morning while guiding a group of Indian army officials to the peak, standing at an impressive height of 8,849 meters.
Expedition organizers from Seven Summit Treks praised him as more than just a national hero, regarding him as a significant symbol of Everest itself. Since his first successful climb in 1994, Kami Rita has been scaling Everest nearly every year, often summiting it multiple times within a single climbing season, including twice in both 2023 and 2024.
His nearest rival, fellow Nepali mountaineer Pasang Dawa, has reached the summit 29 times, making Everest records competitive. Despite the accolades, Kami Rita maintains a humble perspective, stating, "I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken," and emphasizes his commitment to promoting Nepal on the global stage through his climbs.
Earlier this month, he shared glimpses of life on Everest, including Tibetan Buddhist rituals conducted before climbs to ensure safety and success. His recent achievement comes shortly after British climber Kenton Cool summited the peak for a record-setting 19th time for non-Sherpas.
With over 500 climbers successfully reaching the summit this season and climbing permits significantly issued by Nepal, there are growing concerns regarding overcrowding and environmental challenges on Everest, prompting stricter guidelines for climbers to manage waste responsibly.
Expedition organizers from Seven Summit Treks praised him as more than just a national hero, regarding him as a significant symbol of Everest itself. Since his first successful climb in 1994, Kami Rita has been scaling Everest nearly every year, often summiting it multiple times within a single climbing season, including twice in both 2023 and 2024.
His nearest rival, fellow Nepali mountaineer Pasang Dawa, has reached the summit 29 times, making Everest records competitive. Despite the accolades, Kami Rita maintains a humble perspective, stating, "I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken," and emphasizes his commitment to promoting Nepal on the global stage through his climbs.
Earlier this month, he shared glimpses of life on Everest, including Tibetan Buddhist rituals conducted before climbs to ensure safety and success. His recent achievement comes shortly after British climber Kenton Cool summited the peak for a record-setting 19th time for non-Sherpas.
With over 500 climbers successfully reaching the summit this season and climbing permits significantly issued by Nepal, there are growing concerns regarding overcrowding and environmental challenges on Everest, prompting stricter guidelines for climbers to manage waste responsibly.
