Kami Rita Sherpa summits Everest for 29th time
Kami Rita Sherpa has set a world record breaking his own world record for the most summit of the world's highest peak.
Renowned climbing guide Kami Rita Sherpa has reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 29th time, breaking his own record for the most successful ascents of the world's highest peak.
The 54-year-old summited at 7:25 a.m. on Sunday while guiding an expedition organized by adventure operator Seven Summit Treks, according to an official of the Department of Tourism.
The early ascent has sparked speculation that he might attempt to climb the peak twice, as he has done in previous years.
Last year, Sherpa climbed the peak twice after Pasang Dawa Sherpa equaled his world record with two consecutive summits. Sources suggest that Sherpa may aim for a double ascent if Pasang Dawa Sherpa also climbs the peak twice.
Born in the foothills of Everest to the ethnic Sherpa community, Kami Rita started his career as a porter before becoming a climbing guide. He has scaled Everest almost every year since his first successful ascent in 1994, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Pasang Dawa, 46, like Kami Rita hails from the Sherpa stronghold of Khumbu, the home to Everest and several other peaks.
According to the Department of Tourism, at least 414 climbers have obtained permits to climb Everest from the Nepal side during the ongoing spring climbing season, which runs from April to early June.
