Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa has scaled Mount Everest for a record-breaking 31st time, once again surpassing his own world record and cementing his reputation as the mountain’s most accomplished guide.
The 55-year-old mountaineering legend reached the 8,894m summit at 04:00 local time on Tuesday (23:15 GMT Monday), while leading a group of Indian army officials as part of a commercial expedition.
“Kami Rita Sherpa needs no introduction. He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself,” said expedition organiser Seven Summit Treks.
Having first summited Everest in 1994, Kami Rita has climbed the peak almost every year since — including twice in both 2023 and 2024. His nearest rival, fellow Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa, has reached the summit 29 times, with his latest climb recorded just last week.
Despite the international acclaim, Kami Rita remains modest. “I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken,” he told AFP last May. “I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognised in the world.”
His social media posts this season included glimpses of daily life on Everest and the traditional Puja ceremony — a Tibetan Buddhist ritual performed before each expedition to bless climbers and ensure a safe ascent.
Kami Rita’s latest milestone comes just a week after British mountaineer Kenton Cool reached the summit for the 19th time, breaking his own record for the most ascents by a non-Sherpa.
This year’s climbing season is nearing its end, with more than 500 people and their guides successfully reaching Everest’s summit. Nepal’s tourism department issued over 1,000 climbing permits this season for Everest and other peaks.
The surge in summit attempts has raised concerns over overcrowding and environmental degradation. In response, authorities introduced new rules last year, requiring climbers to collect their own human waste and return it to base camp for disposal.
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