Veteran Nepali mountaineer reaches the summit of Mount Everest for a historic 32nd time during the 2026 spring climbing season…reports Asian Lite News
Kami Rita Sherpa has broken his own world record after scaling Mount Everest for the 32nd time, further cementing his status as the most successful climber in the history of the world’s tallest mountain.
The 55 year old veteran mountaineer reached the 8,848.86 metre summit at 10:12am local time on Sunday during Nepal’s Spring 2026 climbing season, according to Nepal’s Department of Tourism.
In a statement, the department said Kami Rita completed the ascent while leading an expedition organised by 14 Peaks Expedition.
The expedition company also confirmed the achievement in a social media post, congratulating the climber on yet another successful Everest summit.
“At 55 years old, he once again proves that determination, experience, and resilience can continue to achieve success even at the highest peaks on Earth,” the company said.
It added that his accomplishment was “a proud moment for Nepal and the global climbing community”.
Known around the world as the “Everest Man”, Kami Rita has become one of the most iconic figures in Himalayan mountaineering after repeatedly pushing the limits of endurance at extreme altitude.
He first climbed Everest in 1994 and has since returned to the summit dozens of times, mostly while working as a high altitude guide for commercial expeditions.
Born on January 17, 1970, in Thame in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, Kami Rita comes from a family deeply connected to Himalayan climbing traditions. Over the decades, he has built a reputation as one of the safest and most experienced guides operating on Everest.
His closest rival for the record remains fellow Nepali climber Pasang Dawa Sherpa, who has reached the summit 29 times.
The competition between the two climbers has attracted international attention in recent years as both continued to add to their Everest records during successive climbing seasons.
Beyond mountaineering, Kami Rita has also emerged as a prominent advocate for environmental protection in the Himalayas.
He has repeatedly raised concerns over the impact of climate change on the Everest region, particularly the rapid melting of glaciers and the growing environmental pressures caused by tourism and commercial climbing activity.
The latest climbing season has once again drawn hundreds of mountaineers to Everest as Nepal continues to benefit economically from international expeditions.
Meanwhile, another major record was also set during the current season by Lhakpa Sherpa, widely known as the “Mountain Queen”.
Lhakpa Sherpa scaled Everest for the 11th time on Monday morning, setting a new world record for the highest number of ascents by a female climber.
She reached the summit at 9:30am local time, according to officials.
Born in 1973 in Nepal’s Sankhuwasabha district, Lhakpa Sherpa has become one of the country’s most celebrated female mountaineers and an inspiration to women climbers around the world.
Her latest ascent adds another milestone to Nepal’s long mountaineering history and highlights the continuing dominance of Sherpa climbers on Everest.
Nepal’s mountaineering authorities and expedition organisers praised both climbers for their achievements, describing them as symbols of resilience, courage and the enduring spirit of the Himalayas.
