Kathmandu: Kami Rita Sherpa, a renowned Nepalese Sherpa guide, has made history once again by conquering Mount Everest for the 32nd time, successfully breaking his own world record. This achievement took place this morning when he reached the summit at 10:12 AM local time while serving as the lead guide for a group of international climbers from 14 Peaks Expedition and Seven Summit Treks. After the successful climb, Kami Rita and his team returned safely to base camp, and a grand welcome ceremony is planned in Kathmandu to celebrate this remarkable feat.
According to Thai News Agency, Kami Rita, aged 56, embarked on his mountaineering career in 1992 and first climbed Mount Everest in 1994 at the age of 24. Over the course of three decades, he has attempted to summit the mountain nearly every year, except for 2014, 2015, and 2020, when the Everest region was closed due to natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. Remarkably, in some years, he even accomplished the feat twice in a single season.
In addition to his unmatched 32 ascents of Mount Everest, Kami Rita holds the world record for the most cumulative ascents of mountains exceeding 8,000 meters. He has previously indicated to local media that his attempt in 2026 might be his final climb before transitioning to less demanding hiking activities.
On the same day, Lhakpa Sherpa, a 52-year-old Nepalese female mountaineer, achieved her 11th successful ascent of Mount Everest, further extending her world record as the woman with the most Everest ascents. Analysts suggest that the achievements of these senior Sherpa guides serve as a significant inspiration to Nepal’s tourism industry. However, they also highlight concerns about a shortage of younger Sherpas, attributed to increasing climate change-related risks in the mountains, such as avalanches and volatile temperatures, which elevate the danger of accidents.