Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa has once again made history by climbing Mount Everest for a record 32nd time, further cementing his title as the world’s most successful Everest climber. The 56-year-old Sherpa guide reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain on May 17 during Nepal’s spring climbing season, surpassing the record he had set himself last year with 31 successful ascents.
Kami Rita, widely known as the “Everest Man,” reached the 8,848.86-meter peak at around 10:12 a.m. local time while guiding climbers as part of a commercial expedition organized by Nepal-based company 14 Peaks Expedition. Officials from Nepal’s Department of Tourism confirmed the achievement and described it as another milestone in the country’s mountaineering history.
Born in the mountain village of Thame in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, the same region associated with legendary climber Tenzing Norgay, Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 while working as a high-altitude guide. Since then, he has returned to the mountain nearly every year, often summiting more than once in a single season. His consistency, endurance, and survival in one of the harshest environments on Earth have made him a global symbol of mountaineering excellence.
Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas on the border between Nepal and Tibet, stands at 8,848.86 meters above sea level and is considered the highest point on Earth. Climbing the mountain is regarded as one of the most difficult physical challenges in the world due to freezing temperatures, avalanches, strong winds, thin oxygen levels, and unpredictable weather conditions.
Experts say Sherpa climbers play a crucial role in Everest expeditions by fixing ropes, carrying equipment, and guiding foreign climbers through dangerous sections such as the Khumbu Icefall. Kami Rita’s achievement also highlights the important contributions of Nepal’s Sherpa community to the global mountaineering industry.
Despite his record-breaking success, Kami Rita has repeatedly described climbing Everest as both a profession and a passion. In past interviews, he said he climbs not only for himself but also for his family, the Sherpa people, and Nepal. His father was among the first professional Sherpa guides after Everest opened to foreign climbers in the 1950s, making mountaineering part of the family’s legacy.
This year’s Everest season has already seen hundreds of climbers attempting the summit during the narrow weather window between April and May. Nepal reportedly issued nearly 500 climbing permits this spring, generating millions of dollars in tourism revenue. However, the season has also been marked by difficult weather conditions and several fatalities, underlining the dangers associated with high-altitude climbing.
Kami Rita’s latest ascent came alongside another major achievement in Everest history. Fellow Nepali climber Lhakpa Sherpa successfully climbed Everest for the 11th time, extending her own world record for the most Everest summits by a woman. The pair’s achievements were celebrated across Nepal and internationally as symbols of determination, resilience, and human endurance.
The history of Everest records has long been dominated by Sherpa climbers. Before Kami Rita, famous mountaineers such as Apa Sherpa and Ang Rita Sherpa held major climbing records on the mountain. However, Kami Rita surpassed all previous records in 2018 and has continued extending his lead almost every year since then.
For many in Nepal, Everest is not only a mountain but also a source of national pride and economic survival. Tourism linked to Everest supports thousands of jobs ranging from guides and porters to hotel owners and airlines. Record-breaking climbs like Kami Rita’s also strengthen Nepal’s image as the center of global mountaineering adventure.
As the world continues to watch Everest expeditions every climbing season, Kami Rita Sherpa’s 32nd summit stands as a reminder of the extraordinary limits of human endurance. At an age when most professional climbers retire, the veteran Sherpa continues to push boundaries on the roof of the world, inspiring adventurers and mountaineers across the globe.
