18/01/2026
27 May 2025, Early Morning, legendary Sherpa climber Kami Rita Sherpa successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 31st time, once again breaking his own world record and cementing his place in mountaineering history.
Born on 17 January 1970 in Thame Village, Solu Khumbu, Nepal, Kami Rita comes from a community deeply rooted in Himalayan mountaineering. Thame is also the birthplace of the legendary Tenzing Norgay. His father was among the first professional Sherpa guides after Everest was opened to foreign climbers in 1950, and his brother Lakpa Rita Sherpa has summited Everest 17 times.
Kami Rita first summited Everest in 1994 during a commercial expedition and has been guiding climbers for more than two decades. Over the past 29 years, he has climbed five 8,000-meter peaks, summiting them 44 times in total. His achievements include ascents of Cho Oyu (8 times), Manaslu (3 times), and single ascents of Lhotse and the world’s second-highest peak, K2 in Pakistan.
Since May 2023, Kami Rita has officially held the world record for the most ascents of Mount Everest, surpassing his own previous milestones by summiting twice in May 2023 alone.
Despite his extraordinary achievements, Kami Rita remains deeply humble and spiritually connected to the mountain. For the Sherpa community, Everest—known as Chomolungma—is a sacred goddess.
“Months before I begin an ascent, I start worshiping and asking for her forgiveness, because I have to put my feet on her body,” he once told the BBC.
“Right before the final steps to the summit, others rush to take photos, but I bow my head again and ask for her forgiveness. No matter how strong or prepared you are, you must be blessed by God to reach the top.”
In another interview, he reflected on his record-breaking career:
“I never thought about making records. I didn’t even know records were possible. Had I known, I would have done many more summits earlier.”
Kami Rita has also stated that he plans to continue climbing for a few more years:
“I am healthy. I can climb until I am 60. With oxygen, it’s no big deal—we were born in the Himalayas.”
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Kami Rita Sherpa’s Everest Ascents
• 1994 – Summit via SE Ridge (13 May)
• 1995 – Summit attempt abandoned at 8,500 m
• 1997 – Summit via SE Ridge (25 May)
• 1998 – Summit via SE Ridge (25 May)
• 1999 – Summit via SE Ridge (13 May)
• 2000 – Summit via SE Ridge (23 May)
• 2002 – Summit via South Col / SE Ridge
• 2003 – Summit via SE Ridge (30 May)
• 2004 – Summit via SE Ridge (24 May)
• 2005 – Summit via SE Ridge (30 May)
• 2006 – Summit via SE Ridge (20 May)
• 2007 – Summit via SE Ridge (22 May)
• 2008 – Summit via SE Ridge (24 May)
• 2009 – Summit via SE Ridge (23 May)
• 2010 – Summit via SE Ridge (5 May)
• 2012 – Summit via SE Ridge (18 May)
• 2013 – Summit via SE Ridge (22 May)
• 2015 – Expeditions cancelled due to earthquake
• 2016 – Summit via NE Ridge (20 May)
• 2017 – Summit via SE Ridge (27 May)
• 2018 – Summit via SE Ridge (16 May)
• 2019 – Two successful summits via SE Ridge
• 2021 – 25th summit via SE Ridge
• 2022 – 26th summit via SE Ridge
• 2023 – 27th summit (17 May), 28th summit (23 May)
• 2024 – 29th and 30th summits via SE Ridge
• 2025 – 31st summit via SE Ridge
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Pic Credit: Kami Rita Sherpa/instagram
