Kami Rita Sherpa Breaks Own Record with 31st Summit of Mount Everest

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: Kelly Ng

Nepali Sherpa Kami Rita, renowned as the "Everest Man," has once again etched his name in the annals of mountaineering history by successfully scaling Mount Everest for the 31st time. This remarkable achievement, which took place at 04:00 local time on Tuesday (23:15 GMT Monday), breaks his own previous record for the most ascents of the world's tallest peak, standing at 8,894 meters.    

At 55 years old, Kami Rita was leading a group of Indian army officials during this latest expedition. His ascent marks a significant milestone in a career that began in 1994 when he first summited Everest while guiding a commercial expedition. Since then, he has made the peak a regular destination, climbing it almost every year, and even achieving the summit twice in some years, including 2023 and 2024.    

Expedition organizer Seven Summit Treks praised Kami Rita, stating, "Kami Rita Sherpa needs no introduction. He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself." His closest competitor, fellow Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa, has reached the summit 29 times, with his most recent attempt occurring just last week.    

In previous interviews, Kami Rita has expressed a pragmatic view of his climbs, referring to them as work rather than a pursuit of records. "I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken," he told AFP in May of last year. "I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognized in the world." 

Earlier this month, he shared glimpses of life on Everest, including a Puja ceremony a Tibetan Buddhist ritual performed before expeditions to pray for a safe and successful climb.    

Kami Rita's achievement comes shortly after British mountaineer Kenton Cool summited Everest for the 19th time, also breaking his own record for the most climbs by a non-Sherpa.    

This climbing season has seen over 500 climbers and their guides successfully reach the summit of Everest, with Nepal issuing more than 1,000 climbing permits for various peaks, according to the country's tourism department.    

The surge in Everest summit attempts in recent years has raised concerns regarding overcrowding and environmental impact. In response, authorities implemented a rule last year requiring climbers to carry their waste back to base camp for proper disposal. 

As the climbing season draws to a close, Kami Rita's latest ascent not only reinforces his status as a legendary figure in mountaineering but also highlights the ongoing challenges and responsibilities associated with climbing the world's highest peak. As the climbing season draws to a close, Kami Rita's latest ascent not only reinforces his status as a legendary figure in mountaineering but also highlights the ongoing challenges and responsibilities associated with climbing the world's highest peak.