Kami Rita breaks own record

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, May 18: Veteran Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa successfully summited Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) for the 32nd time on Sunday morning, further extending his own world record for the highest number of ascents of the world’s tallest peak.

According to the Department of Tourism, Kami Rita reached the 8,848.86-metre summit at 10:12 am (Nepal Standard Time), during the Spring 2026 mountaineering season, while leading an expedition operated by 14 Peaks Expedition.

The department said the information was received from its field office stationed at Everest Base Camp.

Born on January 17, 1970, in Thame of Solukhumbu district, Kami Rita first climbed Mt. Everest in 1994 and has since become one of Nepal’s most celebrated high-altitude climbers. 

He is currently working as a mountain guide on Everest under Climbing Permit No. 70 issued by the Department of Tourism.

The Department of Tourism congratulated Kami Rita on the historic achievement and acknowledged his continued contributions to promoting Nepal’s mountaineering sector on the international stage.

Meanwhile, veteran female climber Lakpa Sherpa, known as the ‘Mountain Queen’, also summited Mt. Everest on Saturday morning, recording her 11th successful ascent of the peak.

Lakpa reached the summit at 9:30 am on Sunday while participating in an expedition operated by Seven Summit Club. With her latest ascent, she continues to hold the record for the most Everest summits by a female climber.