Famous Sherpa guide Kami Rita achieved a new milestone by reaching the summit of Mount Everest for the 31st time on Tuesday, setting a fresh record for the most ascents of the world’s tallest mountain.
At 55 years old, Kami Rita led a group of climbers to the peak in the early morning hours. According to Mingma Sherpa from the Kathmandu-based Seven Summits Treks, Kami Rita was in good health and descending back toward base camp alongside other climbers.
Before the climb, Kami Rita had expressed his intention to reach the summit 31 or even 32 times, having successfully completed two climbs last year. He recently had to turn back during an earlier attempt due to poor weather conditions.
This climbing season, hundreds of mountaineers have tried to summit Everest from Nepal’s southern side, with most expeditions taking place in April and May when the weather is generally more favorable.
Kami Rita first summited Everest in 1994 and has been climbing almost every year since. As a Sherpa guide, his skills and experience play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and success of many foreign climbers aiming to conquer the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak.
Coming from a family of Sherpa guides—his father was one of the early mountain guides—Kami Rita has also climbed other major peaks such as K2, Cho Oyu, Manaslu, and Lhotse.
His closest rival for the record is fellow Sherpa Pasang Dawa, who has reached Everest’s summit 29 times.
Mount Everest was first successfully climbed in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.