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

Kami Rita Sherpa, known for his unparalleled feats on Everest, climbs to the summit for the 31st time, continuing to symbolize Nepal’s mountaineering spirit.

Nepali sherpa Kami Rita, affectionately dubbed the "Everest Man," achieved a remarkable milestone by summiting Mount Everest for the 31st time, surpassing his own record for the most ascents of the world’s highest peak. The 55-year-old guide reached the 8,894-meter pinnacle at 04:00 local time on Tuesday (23:15 GMT Monday) while leading a group of Indian army officials.

Expedition organizer, Seven Summit Treks, hailed Kami Rita’s achievement, stating, "Kami Rita Sherpa needs no introduction. He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself.” The veteran climber made his first ascent of Everest in 1994 while guiding a commercial expedition and has been a regular on the mountain ever since, reaching its summit almost every year, with two climbs recorded in some years, notably 2023 and 2024.

His closest contender, fellow Nepali sherpa Pasang Dawa, has successfully reached the Everest summit 29 times, with a recent ascent taking place last week. Despite his record-breaking climbs, Kami Rita previously expressed his views on mountaineering, stating, “I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken. 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 seek blessings for a safe climb. His latest achievement comes in the wake of British mountaineer Kenton Cool topping Everest for the 19th time, also setting a record for the most climbs by a non-sherpa.

According to Nepal's tourism department, over 500 climbers and their guides have successfully conquered Everest this season, which is nearing an end. The country issued more than 1,000 climbing permits for various peaks, reflecting a surge in Everest attempts in recent years. However, such increases have raised concerns regarding overcrowding and environmental degradation, prompting authorities to enforce new regulations requiring climbers to responsibly manage waste and return it to base camp for proper disposal.