Kathmandu, Nepal – May 28, 2025 — Legendary Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa has once again etched his name into the history books by scaling Mount Everest for a record 31st time, further solidifying his title as the “Everest Man.” The 55-year-old reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit at 4:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, while guiding a team of Indian army officials to the top of the world.

The remarkable achievement, announced by expedition organizer Seven Summit Treks, underscores Kami Rita’s unmatched legacy in the world of high-altitude mountaineering.

“Kami Rita Sherpa needs no introduction. He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself,” the company said in a statement.

Kami Rita first summited Everest in 1994 and has since made the climb nearly every year — sometimes twice in a single season, as he did in both 2023 and 2024. His closest competitor, fellow Nepali sherpa Pasang Dawa, has reached the summit 29 times, most recently just last week.

Despite the awe-inspiring numbers, Kami Rita remains humble about his accomplishments. In a past interview with AFP, he remarked, “I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken. I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognised in the world.”

Earlier this month, the veteran climber shared glimpses of life on Everest through social media, including images from a traditional Puja ceremony — a Tibetan Buddhist ritual performed to bless climbers before their ascent.

His 31st summit comes shortly after British mountaineer Kenton Cool made headlines by reaching Everest’s peak for the 19th time — the most by any non-Sherpa climber.

This season alone, over 500 climbers and their guides have successfully scaled Everest. Nepal’s Department of Tourism issued more than 1,000 climbing permits across various peaks, underscoring the country’s continuing status as a global mountaineering hub. However, the growing number of summit attempts has raised concerns about overcrowding, waste management, and environmental degradation on the mountain.

In response, authorities have implemented stricter regulations, including a controversial rule requiring climbers to collect and bring back their own human waste for proper disposal at base camp.

As the climbing season draws to a close, Kami Rita’s achievement not only inspires the global mountaineering community but also highlights the vital role of Sherpas in Everest’s legacy — a legacy that Kami Rita continues to shape, step by record-breaking step.