Nepali Sherpa climber Kami Rita has made history by conquering Mount Everest for the 29th time, surpassing his own previous record of 28 ascents. Known as the ‘Everest man,’ Kami Rita has now set a new milestone as the climber with the most ascents of the world’s tallest peak in its 71-year climbing history.
Embarking on the Spring Season Everest expedition from Kathmandu, Kami Rita joined a team of around 28 climbers, organized by Seven Summit Treks. Born into the Sherpa community at the foothills of Everest, he started his career as a porter before becoming a climbing guide.
Having completed his first ascent of Everest in 1994 at the age of 24, Kami Rita has since scaled the peak nearly every year, totaling 29 ascents to date. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he managed to achieve his 25th summit in May 2021 when the south side of Everest in Nepal partially reopened.
In 2023, Kami Rita tied the record for the most ascents with fellow guide Pasang Dawa Sherpa but went on to surpass it by completing his 28th climb of Everest. This latest achievement solidifies his reputation as one of the most accomplished climbers in the world.
Mount Everest, also known as Sagarmatha in Nepal, stands at 8,848.86 meters above sea level, making it the tallest mountain peak on Earth. The first successful ascent of Everest was made by New Zealand’s Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953, marking a historic moment in mountaineering history.