Kami Rita Sets Everest Record with 31st Summit: A Testament to Endurance and Legacy

Kathmandu: Veteran Nepalese Sherpa guide Kami Rita has reached a monumental milestone by summiting Mount Everest for the 31st time, breaking his own record for the most successful ascents of the world’s tallest peak.

The 55-year-old mountaineer stood atop the 8,849-meter colossus at around 4 a.m. on Tuesday under favorable weather conditions. His ascent was part of the Indian Army Adventure Wing Everest Expedition, led by Lieutenant Colonel Manoj Joshi, and organized by Seven Summit Treks.

“This new feat cements his status as the record holder for the highest number of ascents to the top of the world — a record that no one else has come close to,” said Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Seven Summit Treks, as quoted by The Kathmandu Post.

Mingma further confirmed, “Kami Rita is safe and stable after his summit. He has started his descent and is on his way back to base camp. As always, Kami has demonstrated his unmatched skills and professionalism on the mountain. We are immensely proud of his achievement and the legacy he continues to build.”

Renowned for his unwavering resolve, Kami Rita has climbed Mount Everest twice each season over the last two years, raising his total number of successful summits to 30 before this record-breaking climb.

His mountaineering odyssey began in 1992 when he first joined an Everest expedition as a support staff member. Since then, Kami Rita has not only climbed Everest repeatedly but has also tackled other formidable peaks. Between 1994 and 2025, he ascended K2 and Mt Lhotse once each, Manaslu thrice, and Cho Oyse eight times, according to Chhang Dawa Sherpa, Expedition Director at Seven Summit Treks.

A native of the Himalayan region, Kami Rita developed a profound affinity for climbing from a young age. Over the past three decades, his resilience, precision, and fortitude have earned him global recognition and deep respect within the climbing community.

Every year, hundreds of climbers from around the world travel to Nepal to attempt the Everest summit. Yet, none have come close to matching this sheer frequency and consistency of kami Rita’s achievements.

Mount Everest was first summited in 1953 by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay — pioneers who opened the door to what has become a legendary pursuit of human endurance and aspiration. Kami Rita, through his tireless dedication, continues to honor that legacy while elevating it to unprecedented heights.