Kathmandu: Kami Rita Sherpa, widely known as the ‘Everest Man,’ has extended his own world record for the highest number of ascents of Mount Everest after successfully reaching the summit for the 32nd time.
The 56-year-old climber achieved the feat on May 17 while guiding clients to the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak as part of an expedition organised by 14 Peaks Expedition.
On the same day, Lakpa Sherpa, known as the ‘Mountain Queen,’ also broke her own record for the most Everest ascents by a female climber after summiting the mountain for the 11th time.
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Nepal’s tourism department congratulated both climbers on what it described as a ‘historic achievement,’ while Balendra Shah praised the pair for once again making history.
In a post on X, Sherpa said that such achievements are only possible through “unwavering courage, rigorous self-discipline, and honest dedication to one’s work.”
Kami Rita Sherpa first climbed Everest in 1994 and has reached the summit nearly every year since, including multiple ascents in some seasons. According to his personal website, he was born in Nepal’s Solukhumbu region into a family of climbers.
In 2018, he became the first person to summit Everest 22 times, surpassing the previous 21-time record he had jointly held with two other retired Nepali Sherpa mountaineers.
Meanwhile, Lhakpa Sherpa first conquered Everest in 2000, becoming the first Nepali woman to successfully summit and descend the mountain.
Her life and mountaineering journey were also featured in the 2023 documentary Mountain Queen, which explored her multiple Everest climbs and experiences as a single mother.
This year’s Everest climbing season has seen especially high activity, with nearly 500 foreign climbers receiving permits to attempt the ascent. Most expeditions are supported by Nepali guides, who are not required to obtain permits.
The busy season has also sparked safety concerns over possible congestion on the mountain, following delays caused by a large and dangerous glacier section blocking part of the route from Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
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