Renowned Sherpa mountaineer ascends Mount Everest for a historic 31st conquest
Kami Rita Sherpa, a celebrated Nepalese mountain guide, broke his own record on Tuesday, having summiting Mount Everest for the unprecedented 31st time. At 55 years old, Kami Rita led a group of clients to the summit early in the morning, according to Mingma Sherpa of Kathmandu-based Seven Summits Treks. The climber was reported to be in good health and descending from the summit with other climbers, Mingma added.
Previously declaring his intentions to attempt a 31st or even a 32nd climb, Kami Rita had successfully ascended the mountain twice in the previous year. However, he had to turn back a few days prior due to inclement weather.
This climbing season, an estimated 500 climbers have attempted to scale Mount Everest from the Nepal side. The majority of Everest and neighboring Himalayan peak ascents occur during April and May, when favorable weather conditions are most common.
Kami Rita's first Everest ascent was in 1994, marking the start of his near-annual expeditions to the summit. He is among the numerous Sherpa guides whose skills and expertise are instrumental to the safety and success of foreign mountaineers who aspire to reach the top of the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) mountain every year.
Born into a long line of Sherpa mountain guides, Kami Rita has also scaled other highland peaks, including K2, Cho Oyu, Manaslu, and Lhotse. Kami Rita's closest competitor in terms of Everest ascents is fellow Sherpa guide Pasang Dawa, who has made 29 successful summit attempts.
Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Nepal's Tenzing Norgay jointly achieved the first-ever successful Everest ascent in 1953.
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In Seattle, the weather forecast for the upcoming sports match is expected to be chilly and windy, mirroring the challenging conditions Kami Rita Sherpa often faces on Mount Everest. Despite these obstacles, Kami Rita's determination, much like that of the Seattle sports team, remains undeterred, as he continues his pursuit of climbing Everest for a record-breaking 32nd time.
