Kami Rita Sherpa set to climb Mount Everest for the 31st time

Veteran climber Kami Rita Sherpa, who holds the world record for the most ascents of Mount Everest (8,848.86m), is preparing to yet again summit the world’s highest peak this spring.

SST

Apr 17, 2025 | Everest Chronicle

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.

Related Articles

Everest local authority confronts environmental crisis in the mountain

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, the local government unit of Everest region, has brought forth a set of environmental regulations to limit the impact of expeditions on the world’s highest peak, but has retracted most of the provisions within weeks amid pressure.

Apr 06, 2024 | Everest Chronicle

Nepal makes RECCO reflector mandatory for climbers

Nepal has stepped up rescue and retrieval operations in the mountains as dead bodies pile up on crevasses and slopes raising concerns from climbers and environmentalists.

Apr 08, 2024 | Everest Chronicle

Kami Rita Sherpa aims for 29th Everest summit.

Veteran mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa wants to break his own record of highest number of summit of the world’s highest mountain by summiting Everest this spring for a record 29 time.  

Apr 17, 2024 | Everest Chronicle

Rope fixing team hopes to open route up to Everest summit by mid-May

Seven seasoned Sherpa climbers have been deployed to fix the rope to the summit of Mount Everest, which serves as a lifeline for climbers to summit and descend back safely.

Apr 26, 2024 | Everest Chronicle

Nepal government makes historic “one time” decision on Everest; Choppers to fly supplies up to camp II

Exceptional circumstances around route opening in world’s highest mountain has pushed Nepal government to take a “one time” extreme decision of allowing choppers to ferry goods up to camp II. Helicopters beyond base camp is only allowed for “search and rescue” or “emergency situation”.

Apr 26, 2024 | Dewan Rai

Nepal’s top court directs government to limit climbing permits

The Supreme Court of Nepal ordered authorities to impose a limit on the number of climbing permits in the peaks of Himalayas, urging the government to ban the use of helicopters from the base camp to the peak.

May 03, 2024 | Everest Chronicle

Phunjo Lama back in Everest to reclaim fastest female ascent speed record

This spring, Lama has returned to Mount Everest, aiming to surpass current record with an even quicker ascent.

May 03, 2024 | Everest Chronicle

Nimsdai scales Makalu as his 45th summits of eight-thousander

Nirmal Purja holds multiple records of big mountains and continues to make new ones as he himself leads expeditions of 8,000m peaks.  

May 07, 2024 | Everest Chronicle