At 55 years old, Kami Rita continues to exemplify resilience and dedication to mountaineering, while raising awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship in Himalayan climbing.
Kami Rita Sherpa Breaks Everest Record with 31st Summit
Kami Rita Sherpa Breaks Everest Record with 31st Summit
Nepali climbing legend Kami Rita Sherpa reaches the summit of Mount Everest for the 31st time, setting a new world record for the most climbs of the peak.
Nepali Sherpa Kami Rita, widely known as "Everest Man," has once again etched his name in the history books by successfully summiting Mount Everest for the 31st time, surpassing his own previous record. The remarkable achievement took place early Tuesday morning at 04:00 local time, while guiding a group of Indian army officials to the summit of the towering 8,849-meter peak.
Organized by Seven Summit Treks, the expedition hailed Kami Rita as a "global symbol of Everest itself." Since making his first ascent back in 1994, he has returned to the summit nearly every year, even doubling his climbs in some years, including instances in 2023 and 2024.
Kami Rita's closest contender for the Everest summit record is fellow Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa, who has successfully scaled the mountain 29 times, with his latest adventure occurring just last week. Despite the glory of his achievement, Kami Rita humbly stated, "I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken," emphasizing his commitment to showcasing Nepal’s rich climbing culture to the world.
In recent weeks, Kami Rita has shared glimpses of life on Everest, including the significant Puja ceremony—a Tibetan Buddhist ritual performed before expeditions that seeks blessings for a safe climb. His new record comes on the heels of British climber Kenton Cool, who recently reached the summit for the 19th time, also breaking a record for non-Sherpas.
This current climbing season has been particularly active, with Nepal issuing over 1,000 permits, which includes those for Everest and other peaks. While the number of successful summits continues to rise, concerns over overcrowding and environmental impacts revolve around this increase. Last year, authorities mandated that climbers clear their waste, ensuring the pristine environment of Everest is preserved.
As the climbing season approaches its conclusion, the importance of sustainable and responsible adventure practices on and around Everest remains more critical than ever.
