Kathmandu: Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa has reached the summit of Mount Everest for a record 31st time, solidifying his position as the most accomplished climber in the world’s history.
The 55-year-old climber, affectionately known as the “Everest Man,” completed the historic ascent early Tuesday as the leader of an Indian Army expedition.
“Kami Rita Sherpa not only reached the summit himself but also led and guided the last remaining members of the team to the top,” said expedition organizer Seven Summit Treks.
Sherpa first scaled the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak in 1994 and has since returned almost every year, primarily as a guide for commercial expeditions.
More than 8,000 individuals have summited Mount Everest since the historic first ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. In a season marked by favorable weather and minimal fatalities, another climber also made headlines.
Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, 29, returned to Kathmandu after scaling Everest four times in just 15 days, the most summits in a single season by any climber.
The spring climbing season, now nearing its end, has seen over 500 successful summits. Nepal’s tourism department reported that more than 1,100 permits were issued this year, including 458 for Everest alone, generating over $5 million in royalties.
Earlier this month, British climber Kenton Cool, 51, also extended his record for the most Everest summits by a non-Nepali, reaching the top for the 19th time.
As one of the world’s poorest countries, Nepal is home to eight of the highest 14 mountains and relies heavily on trekking, climbing, and tourism for its foreign exchange earnings.
