Kami Rita breaks his own record by summiting Sagarmatha for 31 times

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, May 28: Kami Rita Sherpa, the legendary Nepali mountaineer, has successfully reached the summit of Sagarmatha for the 31st time, further extending his own world record for most ascents of the world's highest peak.

Thaneswar Guragai, General Manager of Seven Summit Treks, confirmed that Kami Rita reached the 8,848.86-metre summit at 4 am on Tuesday via the northeastern route.

Kami Rita, 55, was leading a team of 22-Indian Army personnel to the summit. Guragai informed that the group also included 27 Nepali Sherpas, including Kami Rita himself. Some members of the team reached the summit slightly earlier, but all successfully summited by 4 am on Tuesday. 

He said that Kami Rita was in good health and began descending towards Base Camp along with the rest of the team. They are expected to reach the Base camp on Wednesday and return to the capital by Thursday. 

The expedition began their journey on April 12 and completed it in 45 days. Guragai said that the climb proceeded smoothly and efficiently, owning to the discipline and preparedness of the Indian Army team. However, the group did face some weather challenges on May 12 and 13, causing delay in their summit attempt.

Earlier, during favourable weather, Kami Rita had also ascended Sagarmatha twice in a single spring climbing season.

This year, the Department of Tourism issued Everest climbing permits to 468 individuals from 57 countries, including 382 male and 86 female climbers. 

Of them, a largest number of climbers came from India, with a total 87 Indian nationals receiving permits for the 2025 spring climbing season (70 male and 17 female). 

Born in January 1970, Kami Rita is a legendary Nepali Sherpa mountaineer renowned for holding the world record for the most ascents of Mt. Everest. As of 27 May 2025, he has reached the summit 31 times, surpassing his own previous records. 

A professional guide since the 1990s, he comes from a pioneering Sherpa family, his father was among the first professional guides after Everest opened to foreigners in 1950, and his brother Lakpa Rita summited Everest 17 times.

He also holds the record for the most ascents of peaks above 8,000 metres, with 40 in total, including Cho-Oyu (eight times), Lhotse and K2.