BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Veteran Nepali Sherpa guide Kami Rita Sherpa reached the summit of Mount Everest for a record 32nd time on Sunday, further cementing his status as the most accomplished climber in the history of the world’s tallest mountain.
Officials from Nepal’s Department of Tourism confirmed that the 56-year-old mountaineer successfully climbed the 8,849-meter peak while leading a team of clients for the expedition company 14 Peaks Expedition. According to authorities, Kami Rita reached the summit at 10:12 a.m. local time under favorable weather conditions during the busy spring climbing season.
The achievement surpassed his own previous record set last year and added another milestone to a career that has made him one of the most respected figures in Himalayan mountaineering. Nepalese tourism officials praised the Sherpa guide for his extraordinary accomplishments and his decades-long contribution to Nepal’s mountain tourism industry, which plays a crucial role in the country’s economy.
Kami Rita’s latest ascent drew widespread attention across Nepal, where Sherpa climbers are celebrated for their endurance, technical expertise and deep knowledge of the Himalayas. Many within the mountaineering community regard his record as one of the greatest achievements in high-altitude climbing history.
Born in the remote village of Thame in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, Kami Rita comes from the same region that produced legendary mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, who, together with New Zealand climber Sir Edmund Hillary, became the first person confirmed to have reached the summit of Everest in 1953. The mountainous district remains at the heart of Nepal’s climbing culture and continues to produce many of the world’s elite high-altitude guides.
Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has returned to the mountain nearly every year since then. His long climbing career spans more than three decades, during which he repeatedly guided international clients through the dangerous Khumbu Icefall, harsh weather conditions and the thin air of the “death zone” near Everest’s summit.
He did not climb Everest in 2014, 2015 and 2020 due to extraordinary circumstances that shut down expeditions. The 2014 season was disrupted after a deadly avalanche killed several Sherpa guides, while the 2015 climbing season was canceled following Nepal’s devastating earthquake and avalanche disasters. In 2020, the mountain was closed because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In several years, Kami Rita reached the summit more than once during the same climbing season, steadily increasing a record that few mountaineers are expected to challenge.
The Department of Tourism also announced that Nepali Sherpa climber Lakhpa Sherpa, 52, successfully completed her 11th ascent of Everest, extending her own record for the most summits by a woman. Additional details about her expedition were not immediately released.
Mount Everest continues to attract climbers from around the world despite growing concerns over overcrowding, dangerous weather shifts and environmental damage on the mountain. Since the first successful ascent more than seven decades ago, more than 8,000 people have climbed Everest, with many attempting the summit multiple times.
Among non-Sherpa climbers, British mountain guide Kenton Cool currently holds the record with 19 Everest summits. American climbers Dave Hahn and Garrett Madison follow with 15 ascents each. Both Cool and Madison are reportedly on Everest this season seeking to add to their records.
For many Sherpa families living in Nepal’s mountainous regions, guiding foreign climbers remains one of the most important sources of income. Expedition work on Everest and other Himalayan peaks provides employment opportunities that support entire communities, though the work comes with significant risks.
This year’s Everest climbing season has already seen fatalities. Authorities confirmed that three Nepali climbers died on the mountain earlier this month, underscoring the dangers that persist even for highly experienced mountaineers.
Nepal has issued 492 permits to foreign climbers for the current March-to-May Everest season, one of the highest totals in recent years. The large number of climbers reflects Everest’s enduring global appeal, even as officials and expedition organizers continue debating how to improve safety and reduce congestion on the mountain.
Kami Rita’s latest summit once again highlighted the critical role Sherpa climbers play in Himalayan expeditions. While foreign climbers often receive international attention for reaching the summit, Sherpas are widely regarded as the backbone of Everest expeditions, carrying equipment, fixing ropes, establishing camps and guiding clients through some of the world’s most hazardous terrain.
Despite decades spent climbing Everest, Kami Rita has repeatedly described mountaineering as both a profession and a way of life tied deeply to his heritage and community. His newest ascent further strengthened a legacy that has become unmatched in the history of high-altitude climbing.
Original article
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