Everest: Kami Rita Sherpa, the unstoppable record holder of ascents

He is nicknamed " Mr. Everest ." Nepalese mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa reached the summit of the world's highest mountain for the 31st time on Tuesday, May 27, breaking his own record. "Congratulations to the legendary Kami Rita Sherpa!" his employer, Seven Summit Treks, said in a statement. He "not only reached the summit himself, but also led and guided the remaining members of the team to the end," the company added, adding that Kami Rita Sherpa was accompanying an Indian army expedition.

A mountain guide for over 20 years, Kami Rita Sherpa was born in 1970 in the Himalayan village of Thame. He grew up in the valley watching his father, and later his brother, go on expeditions as mountain guides, before following in their footsteps. He first climbed to the " Roof of the World ," peaking at 8,849 meters, during a commercial expedition in 1994.

Now 55, he has climbed Everest almost every year, achieving the feat of reaching it twice in the space of six days in 2019. "I'm happy with this record, but records get broken eventually," he said after his 29th expedition in 2024. He also has other peaks over 8,000 meters to his name, including K2 in Pakistan, the second highest mountain in the world.

"He is not only a national hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself," Seven Summit Treks continues . It is true that in his country, Kami Rita Sherpa is considered a " national treasure ." Yet, for him, these climbs are simply part of his job, he told the press.

Himal Gautam, director of the mountaineering and adventure section of the Nepalese Ministry of Tourism, nevertheless emphasizes that the record set by Kami Rita Sherpa "contributes to enabling the country's mountaineering to reach new heights." This year, more than 500 climbers and their guides have already successfully climbed Everest since the beginning of the season, according to the Nepalese tourism department.

Originally from Kham, a province in southeastern Tibet , Sherpas (from the Tibetan " shar " and " pa ": " people of the east ") arrived in Nepal around the mid-16th century and now represent 0.7% of the country's population. Like Kami Rita, many have worked as guides on Mount Everest since the first Himalayan expeditions in the early 20th century. Along with New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillarye, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first to conquer Everest on May 29, 1953.

These young men perform, among other things, the dangerous work of installing the ropes and ladders that climbers use to reach the summit , building and managing camps, and carrying personal belongings and vital supplies, such as extra oxygen tanks. Being a Sherpa requires extensive knowledge of the mountains and their dangers, exceptional physical fitness, and extraordinary endurance. Paid around €4,000 per ascent, most only make one ascent per year.

Their Buddhist faith also deeply permeates their relationship with the mountains, which they see not as a simple physical challenge, but as a sacred space. Anchored in their daily lives, this spirituality values ​​non-violence and respect for all life, and forges a respectful approach to mountaineering, while emphasizing the importance of physical discipline.