Kathmandu: Renowned Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa, famously known as the ‘Everest Man,’ has reached the summit of Mount Everest for a record-breaking 31st time, surpassing his own world record for the most ascents of the world’s tallest peak.
The 55-year-old mountaineer successfully reached the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) summit, while leading a group of Indian army officials on their expedition.
The feat was confirmed by expedition organiser Seven Summit Treks, which praised Kami Rita as a national hero and an international symbol of Everest. “Kami Rita Sherpa needs no introduction. He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself,” the organiser said in a statement.
The Everest Man did it again! 31st Ascent of Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha) 🏔️
Massive congratulations to the legendary Kami Rita Sherpa on his 31st successful ascent of Everest — the highest number of ascents by anyone in history – with @sevensummittreks
Kami Rita reached the… pic.twitter.com/vPdFh28Bzu
— Seven Summit Treks 🇳🇵 (@sst8848) May 27, 2025
Everest Man’s mountaineering
Kami Rita’s mountaineering career began in 1994 when he summited Everest for the first time while guiding a commercial expedition. Since then, he has climbed the peak nearly every year, and in some years, including 2023 and 2024, he reached the summit twice.
His closest competitor for the Everest summit record is fellow Nepali mountaineer Pasang Dawa Sherpa, who has scaled the peak 29 times, most recently just last week.
Despite the global attention, Kami Rita remains humble, often describing his mountaineering achievements as simply ‘work.’ Between an interview in 2023, Sherpa remarked that, “I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken. I am happier that my climbs help Nepal be recognised in the world.”
Earlier this month, Kami Rita offered a rare personal glimpse into life on Everest by sharing videos on social media, including moments from a Puja ceremony, a sacred Tibetan Buddhist ritual performed before each expedition to pray for a safe and successful climb.
His 31st ascent also comes a week after British mountaineer Kenton Cool broke his record for the most Everest climbs by a non-Sherpa, reaching the summit for the 19th time.
The 2024 spring climbing season has seen more than 500 successful ascents of Everest so far. According to Nepal’s Department of Tourism, over 1,000 permits were issued this season for climbing Mount Everest and other peaks.
However, the growing number of summit attempts in recent years has raised concerns about overcrowding, safety, and environmental impact on the mountain.
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