Kami Rita Sherpa, a 55-year-old Nepali mountaineer, reached the peak of Mount Everest for the 31st time on May 27, breaking his own world record. Known as “Everest Man,” he first climbed Everest in 1994 and has since become a legendary figure in high-altitude climbing. This latest ascent was part of an Indian army expedition to the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit, reinforcing his unmatched career as a guide.
Seven Summit Treks, the expedition organizer, praised Kami Rita as a global symbol of Everest and Nepal’s national climbing hero. Despite his achievements, Sherpa remains humble. In a 2024 interview, he emphasized that records can be broken, but his main joy is helping Nepal gain recognition worldwide.
This climbing season has seen other remarkable feats. Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, 29, completed four Everest summits within 15 days, an unprecedented achievement. Over 500 climbers and guides successfully reached Everest’s summit this spring, with only two reported fatalities, making it one of the safest seasons in recent years.
Nepal issued over 1,100 mountaineering permits in 2025, including 458 for Everest, generating more than $5 million in revenue. The country, home to eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, remains a top destination for climbers during favorable spring weather.
British climber Kenton Cool also set a personal best by summiting Everest 19 times, the highest for any non-Nepali climber. Himal Gautam, director of mountaineering at Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism, credited Kami Rita’s record with elevating Nepal’s mountaineering sector to new heights.
Since the historic 1953 ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, Everest has symbolized human endurance and ambition. Its climbing industry continues to boost Nepal’s global recognition and economic growth.
