As hundreds of climbers and their guides throng the Everest base camp to climb the world’s highest mountain, legendary mountaineer Kami Rita is in no rush to reach there yet. He will depart to Lukla from Kathmandu next week before trekking to base camp to join his expedition team from Seven Summit Treks.

“This time, I will be leading an Indian team to the summit of Everest,” Kami Rita told Everest Chronicle. “I’m not climbing for any record. It’s just another day on the job.”

This will be his 31st ascent of Everest.

Kami Rita did not rule out the possibility of climbing Everest twice this season, as he has done in previous years. “It depends on how the expeditions progress. We have four expedition groups. If needed, I’ll be ready to lead another team,” he said.

In both 2023 and 2024, Kami Rita summited Everest twice within the same season — on May 17 and 23 in 2023, and on May 12 and 23 in 2024. “If a climber doesn’t climb, what else is there to do?” he said.

Over a mountaineering career spanning more than three decades, Kami Rita has also summited several other 8,000-meter peaks. However, Everest remains a constant in his climbing schedule. “Climbers choose me as their guide, not the other way around. And while following my duty, the record just followed,” he emphasized.

Born in Thame village in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, Kami Rita grew up immersed in the culture of mountaineering. Today, he is revered both in Nepal and within the global mountain community for his achievements and expertise.

Kami Rita plans to continue climbing as long as possible. Alongside his expeditions, he regularly shares his experience by giving lectures and conducting training sessions both domestically and internationally.

He is also committed to passing on his knowledge to the younger generation, hoping to ensure the continuation of the Sherpa legacy in mountain guiding. “It’s a risky job, so we must work to make it safer,” he said.

From fixing ropes to summiting peaks and the use of drones to carry logistics, Kami Rita notes that climbing Everest has become much safer than it was when he first started. He believes these improvements are among the key reasons for the growing number of climbers attempting the mountain each year.

Officials at the Department of Tourism estimate that the number of climbers will reach 500 this year. There will be a significant number of Indian army personnel this year, which is the main reason for this high number of climbers. It is not because of the fee hike for climbing permit from next year, explained an official of the Department.