Kami Rita Sherpa, famously known as 'Everest Man', has once again etched his name in history by summiting Mount Everest for the 31st time, thereby surpassing his previous record for the most ascents of the world’s highest peak. The accomplished 55-year-old reached the summit at 04:00 local time on Tuesday (23:15 GMT Monday) while leading a group of Indian army officials.
Expedition organiser Seven Summit Treks hailed Kami Rita as a "global symbol of Everest itself." Since his first successful ascent in 1994, he has summited the mountain nearly every year, sometimes even twice within a single climbing season, as witnessed in both 2023 and 2024.
His closest competitor, fellow Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa, has successfully climbed Everest 29 times, with his latest attempt just last week. Despite his record-breaking achievements, Kami Rita has stated that while he is proud of his accomplishments, his climbs serve a greater purpose: elevating Nepal's status on the global stage.
Earlier this month, Kami Rita shared moments from his life on Everest, including a Puja ceremony—a Tibetan Buddhist ritual that is performed before climbing expeditions to pray for a safe journey. His latest achievement follows the recent summit of British mountaineer Kenton Cool, who reached the peak for the 19th time, setting the record for the most climbs among non-Sherpas.
This climbing season has seen over 500 climbers successfully make their way to the summit as the season approaches its end, with Nepal issuing more than 1,000 climbing permits for Everest and other peaks. However, the rise in ascent attempts has raised concerns regarding overcrowding and environmental sustainability on the mountain. In response, authorities have instituted measures, including a mandate for climbers to return their waste back to base camp for proper disposal, reflecting growing awareness of Everest’s environmental challenges.
Expedition organiser Seven Summit Treks hailed Kami Rita as a "global symbol of Everest itself." Since his first successful ascent in 1994, he has summited the mountain nearly every year, sometimes even twice within a single climbing season, as witnessed in both 2023 and 2024.
His closest competitor, fellow Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa, has successfully climbed Everest 29 times, with his latest attempt just last week. Despite his record-breaking achievements, Kami Rita has stated that while he is proud of his accomplishments, his climbs serve a greater purpose: elevating Nepal's status on the global stage.
Earlier this month, Kami Rita shared moments from his life on Everest, including a Puja ceremony—a Tibetan Buddhist ritual that is performed before climbing expeditions to pray for a safe journey. His latest achievement follows the recent summit of British mountaineer Kenton Cool, who reached the peak for the 19th time, setting the record for the most climbs among non-Sherpas.
This climbing season has seen over 500 climbers successfully make their way to the summit as the season approaches its end, with Nepal issuing more than 1,000 climbing permits for Everest and other peaks. However, the rise in ascent attempts has raised concerns regarding overcrowding and environmental sustainability on the mountain. In response, authorities have instituted measures, including a mandate for climbers to return their waste back to base camp for proper disposal, reflecting growing awareness of Everest’s environmental challenges.
