Kami Rita Sherpa, a veteran Sherpa guide, has once again broken the world record for the most number of successful bids to reach the summit of the world’s highest peak — Mount Everest. This year’s 27th summit surpasses his previous record of 26 ascents of the 29,032-foot summit.
Rita has been a key figure in Everest expeditions since his first ascent in 1994, and this year’s victory comes just three days after his fellow Sherpa guide Pasang Dawa Sherpa had also equalled his previous record of 26 ascents. Reportedly, Rita had led a group of climbers, while guiding a foreign climber, to the summit at 8:30 a.m. on 15 May.
Despite facing obstacles and dangers in many previous climbs, such as in 2014 when an ice avalanche on Everest killed 16 Sherpa guides, Sherpa climbers like Rita and his fellow mountaineers have continued to risk their lives, relying on their experience, knowledge, and expertise to guide explorers up the dangerous mountain peak.
This year, a rush for the summit is expected as Nepalese authorities issued nearly 470 permits for climbing Everest this spring. Likewise, a group of Sherpa climbers is attempting to climb Everest to raise awareness of the vital role played by these Nepalese mountain guides who help foreign climbers scale the mountain and to draw attention to the plight of Sherpa families living near the base camp. They include Rita, famed for his numerous successful climbs, Furdiki Sherpa, whose husband died in a mountaineering accident, and Nima Doma, whose husband died in the 2014 avalanche.
Together, this trio aims to highlight the bravery and achievements of the Sherpa people and to use their experience and public profile to launch an organization that provides aid to Sherpa widows through financial assistance, job training, and counseling.
Sherpa climbing guides are crucial to the tourism industry in Nepal and are in high demand, with foreign climbers relying heavily on their expertise, despite the physical hazards and altitude risks. However, despite tougher regulations in recent years, including a ban on single-use plastics, the number of people attempting to climb Everest continues to rise.
Last year, 807 individuals climbed the mountain, leading to 11 fatalities, including two Sherpas. This year, however, the season faced delays after three Sherpa climbers fell into a crevasse on a treacherous section of Everest in April and have not been found. Nevertheless, many climbers have already reached the summit, with Rita’s 27th victory proving once again how truly inspirational he is.
Kami Rita Sherpa’s latest achievement is a significant milestone for the veteran Sherpa guide. His record-breaking feat surpasses his previous record of 26 ascents of the summit, cementing his reputation as one of the best mountain climbers of all time. Despite the notable risks in scaling the peak, Sherpa climbers remain critical to the tourism industry in Nepal, helping foreign climbers tackle Everest. Kami Rita’s and his fellow Sherpa climbers’ brave efforts are truly inspirational and deserve recognition for their achievements in bringing awareness to the plight of the Sherpa people and aiding the families of Sherpa widows.
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