Nepali sherpa Kami Rita, renowned as the "Everest Man," has achieved a remarkable milestone by summiting Mount Everest for the 31st time, successfully surpassing his previous record for the most ascents of the world's highest peak. At 55 years old and leading a group of Indian army officials, he reached the summit at 04:00 local time on Tuesday (23:15 GMT Monday). Expedition organiser Seven Summit Treks celebrated him as "a global symbol of Everest itself," recognizing his monumental contributions to climbing.
Kami Rita first conquered Everest in 1994 while guiding a commercial expedition, and since then, he has made the trek almost every year, summitting as many as twice in some years, including 2023. His nearest rival, fellow Nepali sherpa Pasang Dawa, has ascended the peak 29 times, with his latest attempt just last week.
In past interviews, Kami Rita expressed that while he's pleased with the record, he views climbing primarily as part of his job, stating, "I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognised in the world." His recent posts shared insights into life on Everest, including clips of the Puja ceremony—a traditional Tibetan Buddhist ritual held for safe expeditions.
This latest achievement arrives shortly after British mountaineer Kenton Cool also summited Everest, marking his 19th ascent and setting a record for the most climbs by a non-Sherpa. This climbing season has seen more than 500 individuals reach Everest's peak, with Nepal issuing over 1,000 climbing permits for various summits, according to tourism officials.
However, the significant increase in climbing attempts has raised alarms over overcrowding and environmental sustainability, leading to recent regulations requiring climbers to manage their waste responsibly. As the Everest climbing season comes to a close, these issues continue to garner attention amidst the awe of Karen Rita's notable accomplishments.
