Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa, a 55-year-old mountaineering legend known as "Everest Man," has once again pushed the boundaries of high-altitude achievement by scaling Mount Everest for a record-breaking 31st time. He reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit at 04:00 local time on Tuesday (23:15 GMT Monday), further cementing his status as the world's most accomplished Everest guide.

This latest historic ascent was part of a commercial expedition where Kami Rita was leading a group of Indian army officials. His expedition organiser, Seven Summit Treks, lauded his achievement, stating, "Kami Rita Sherpa needs no introduction. He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself." They confirmed he not only reached the summit himself but also successfully guided the last remaining members of the Indian army team to the top.

Kami Rita Sherpa's unparalleled career on Everest began with his first summit in 1994 while working for a commercial expedition. Since then, he has climbed the peak almost every year, often multiple times in a single year, including twice in both 2023 and 2024. Despite the international acclaim, he remains modest about his accomplishments. "I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken," he told AFP in May 2024, after his 29th and 30th ascents. "I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognised in the world." He has previously stated that he was "just working" and not specifically aiming to set records.

Kami Rita's record stands significantly ahead of his nearest rival, fellow Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa, who has 29 summits. The mountaineering world also recently acknowledged British climber Kenton Cool, 51, who extended his own record for the most Everest summits by a non-Nepali, reaching the peak for the 19th time earlier this month. Adding to the season's remarkable feats, another Nepali climber, Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, 29, made headlines by summiting Everest four times in just 15 days, completing his final ascent on May 23. "I feel proud, it was a very difficult task but I made it a success," Gyalzen Sherpa told AFP. "Earlier, many pioneers have scaled the Everest many times, but not four times in one season."

The spring climbing season on Everest, which is now nearing its end, has seen considerable activity. More than 500 climbers and their guides have successfully reached the summit since the route opened, taking advantage of favorable weather windows. Nepal's tourism department issued over 1,100 permits for mountaineers this season across various peaks, including 458 specifically for Everest, generating over $5 million in royalties. Notably, this season has recorded a relatively low number of fatalities on Everest, with two deaths reported: a Filipino and an Indian climber.

Kami Rita Sherpa's consistent achievements are seen as a significant boost for Nepal's mountaineering sector. Himal Gautam, director of mountaineering and adventure section at Nepal's Tourist Ministry, commented that Kami Rita's record ascent "has helped to take Nepal’s mountaineering sector to the next height." Mountaineering has become a lucrative business for Nepal, a country home to eight of the world's ten highest peaks, ever since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa made the first successful ascent of Everest in 1953. Last year alone, more than 800 climbers reached Everest's peak, including 74 from the northern Tibet side.

Alongside the triumphs, the surge in summit attempts has raised concerns about overcrowding and environmental degradation on Everest. In response, Nepalese authorities introduced new regulations last year, requiring climbers to collect their own human waste and carry it back to base camp for proper disposal. The cultural traditions of mountaineering also continue to play a vital role. Kami Rita Sherpa often shares glimpses of life on Everest, including the traditional Puja ceremony – a Tibetan Buddhist ritual performed before each expedition to bless climbers and pray for a safe ascent.