Everest Man Kami Rita Sherpa Sets Record with 31st Summit of World’s Highest Peak

Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa has once again etched his name in history by reaching the summit of Mount Everest for a record-breaking 31st time. The 55-year-old climber, often referred to as the “Everest Man,” scaled the world’s tallest peak on Tuesday — a feat that cements his legacy as the most successful Everest climber in history.

“Massive congratulations to the legendary Kami Rita Sherpa on his 31st successful ascent of Everest,” said expedition organiser Seven Summit Treks. “He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself.”

Sherpa first summited Everest in 1994 while working for a commercial expedition, and has since returned almost every year, primarily as a guide helping others achieve the same dream. This week’s summit was accomplished while leading an Indian Army team, with Sherpa ensuring that the entire group safely reached the top.

Though he is now a global icon in mountaineering, Kami Rita has always maintained a humble approach. After completing his 29th and 30th ascents last year, he told AFP, “I am just working. I’m glad for the record, but records are eventually broken. I’m more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognised in the world.”

While Kami Rita was making history yet again, another Nepali climber was setting his own remarkable record. Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, 29, returned to Kathmandu on Tuesday after successfully summiting Everest four times in just 15 days — a new record for the most ascents in a single season.

“I feel proud. It was a very difficult task, but I made it a success,” he told AFP, as family members and fans welcomed him at the airport. “Others have climbed Everest many times, but not four times in one season.”

This spring season has seen a flurry of activity on the mountain. Nepal’s tourism department says over 500 climbers and guides have already summited Everest in recent weeks, taking advantage of narrow weather windows. Fortunately, this season has recorded one of the lowest death tolls in recent years, with only two fatalities reported — a climber from the Philippines and another from India.

Nepal issued over 1,100 mountaineering permits this season, including 458 for Everest alone, generating more than $5 million in royalties. Home to eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, the country continues to attract hundreds of mountaineers each spring, drawn by its breathtaking landscapes and ideal climbing conditions.

Earlier this month, British climber Kenton Cool, 51, also made headlines by completing his 19th Everest summit — the highest number ever achieved by a non-Nepali climber.

Tourism ministry official Himal Gautam praised Kami Rita’s achievement, saying, “His record ascent has helped take Nepal’s mountaineering sector to the next height.”

Since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa first reached the summit in 1953, Everest has become a beacon for climbers around the world. Today, thanks to climbers like Kami Rita and Tashi Gyalzen, the legacy of Everest continues to soar to new heights.