He has assured in the past that he was only “working” and did not aim to achieve records. However, the Nepalese mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa continues them. He reached the summit of Everest for the 30th time on Wednesday, breaking his own record for ascents of the highest mountain in the world, announced the organizer of his expedition, the company Seven Summit Trek.
A mountain guide for more than twenty years, Kami Rita Sherpa climbed to the summit of Everest, at an altitude of 8,849 meters, for the first time in 1994. It was then for a commercial expedition. Since then, he has climbed the world’s highest mountain almost every year, driving clients.
“I am happy with this record, but records end up being broken,” Kami Rita Sherpa told AFP on May 12, after reaching the summit of Everest for the 29th time. “The fact that my climbs are helping Nepal to be recognized in the world makes me even more happy,” he added. In 2023, he climbed to the summit of Everest twice, each time achieving a new record after being caught by another guide, Pasang Dawa Sherpa.
419 ascent permits for 2024
The Nepalese has several other peaks over 8,000 meters to his credit, including K2 in Pakistan, the second highest mountain in the world.
Nepal has issued 419 permits to climb Everest this year for the spring climbing season, which runs from April to early June. Most climbers make the ascent with a Nepalese guide. More than 800 people are therefore expected to tackle Everest during the season.
In 2023, more than 600 climbers reached the summit of Everest, which saw a record number of 18 deaths.