Sherpa Guide Kami Rita Reaches Everest Summit for Unprecedented 31st Time

Kami Rita, a legendary Sherpa mountain guide, etched his name further into Everest lore on Tuesday by successfully summiting Mount Everest for the thirty-first time, surpassing his own record for the most ascents of the world’s highest peak. At age 55, he led a group of clients to the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit in the early hours, then began his descent in good health alongside fellow climbers, according to Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summits Treks, which is based in Kathmandu.

A Long-Standing Everest Tradition

Rita first conquered Everest in 1994 and has returned almost every year since, matching his unparalleled combination of endurance, skill, and high-altitude expertise. With this latest climb, he now stands alone at the top of the list of individuals who have summited Everest most frequently. Until recently, he shared this distinction with fellow Sherpa Pasang Dawa, who has logged twenty-nine successful ascents.

Before departing for this season’s climb, Rita had expressed his intention to make his thirty-first, or even thirty-second, ascent. He accomplished two Everest summits during the previous year, underscoring his remarkable consistency. A few days prior to Tuesday’s success, he had attempted to reach the summit but turned back due to adverse weather conditions. “The mountain decides,” he once remarked in an interview, reflecting the unpredictable nature of Everest’s environment.

Guiding Through the Crowds

Thousands of climbers attempt to scale Everest each spring, primarily from the Nepal-side southern route, between April and May when the notoriously treacherous conditions are at their most stable. This climbing season is drawing to a close by this weekend, and hundreds of adventurers have already experienced Mingma Sherpa’s guidance. As a lead guide, Rita’s responsibilities include setting fixed ropes, establishing high camps, and negotiating the infamous Khumbu Icefall. His decades of experience, combined with deep familiarity with Everest’s shifting ice and weather patterns, make him indispensable to many foreign mountaineers seeking a safe passage to the summit.

Family Legacy and Career Highlights

Mountain guiding runs in Rita’s blood. His father was among the earliest Sherpa guides who led foreign expeditions in the Himalayas. Building upon his father’s pioneering legacy, Rita has expanded his résumé to include other towering peaks, such as K2 (8,611 meters), Cho Oyu (8,188 meters), Manaslu (8,163 meters), and Lhotse (8,516 meters). Each of these expeditions showcases his ability to navigate complex terrain and extreme altitude, further enhancing his reputation as one of the most accomplished high-altitude climbers in history.

In addition to his mountaineering prowess, Rita has become an inspiration for the Sherpa community, quietly championing education and sustainable tourism. His story exemplifies the balance between honoring traditional Sherpa culture and navigating the modern demands of guiding well-financed international clients.

The Broader Context of Everest Climbing

Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali Sherpa, became the first to confirm reaching Everest’s summit in 1953. Since that historic 1953 ascent, thousands have followed in their footsteps—many guided by expert Sherpas like Kami Rita. Over the decades, Sherpas transitioned from supporting roles to becoming star guides in their own right, setting records and earning respect for their unmatched acclimatization and route-setting skills.

Despite the allure of personal glory, Rita has consistently emphasized teamwork. “It’s never just about me,” he has said. “We climb together, as Sherpas and climbers, respecting the mountain and each other.” His recent thirty-first summit serves as a testament to this collaborative spirit.

As he descended from the summit back to base camp, Rita joined a growing roster of Sherpas whose names are now inseparable from Everest itself. With weather windows closing for this spring’s season, he and his fellow guides will soon reflect on another period of triumphs and challenges on the world’s highest mountain. For teams like Seven Summits Treks and clients who rely on his leadership, his thirty-first ascent reinforces the vital role that Sherpas play in Himalayan expeditions. And while other ambitious climbers may one day match or even surpass Rita’s record, for now, he remains the unrivaled king of Everest summits.