Nepalese climber Kami Rita Sherpa, 53, reached the summit of Mt. Everest (8,848.86 meters) for the 28th time, breaking his record for the highest number of Everest summits.

Kami Rita Sherpa holds the Nepalese flag on the mountain. Photo courtesy: Kami Rita Sherpa.

Kami Rita Sherpa, who is a senior climbing guide, made history by climbing the 8848.86-meter-high mountain for the 27th time at 8:30 a.m. (local time) with his team on May 17, 2023. The record was matched by Pasang Dawa Sherpa reaching the summit of the highest mountain on May 22, 2023. But Kami Rita again scaled the highest peak on May 23, 2023, at 9:20 a.m., claiming the title for himself.

His record has gained global attention, likely to bring more trekkers to Everest Base Camp.

Kami Rita Sherpa’s Mt. Everest Climbing History

Kami Rita climbed Mt. Everest for the first time on May 13, 1994, from the south side as a high-altitude worker. Since then, it’s been his 27th time climbing the same mountain, breaking history repeatedly. His last summit, i.e., the 26th ascent of Everest, was on May 7th, 2022, at 52 years.

This year, the mountaineering beast, Kami Rita Sherpa, broke his own Mt. Everest records for the highest number of climbs on the world’s highest mountain. Besides his Everest climb, he has scaled Cho-Oyo eight times, Manaslu three times, and Lhotse and K2 once each.

Kami Rita’s Everest Expedition Timeline:

• 1994: Summited on 13 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 1995: Reached up to 8500 metres
• 1997: Summited on 25 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 1998: Summited on 25 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 1999: Summited on 13 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2000: Summited on 23 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2002: Summited on 25 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2003: Summited on 30 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2004: Summited on 24 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2005: Summited on 30 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2006: Summited on 20 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2007: Summited on 22 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2008: Summited on 24 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2009: Summited on 5 May and 23 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2010: Summited on 5 May and 24 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2012: Summited on 18 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2013: Summited on 10 May and 22 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2015: No summit bid due to the Earthquake
• 2016: Summited on 20 May, via N Col – NE Ridge
• 2017: Summited on 27 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2018: Summited on 16 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2019: Summited on 15 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2019: Summited on 21 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2021: Summited on 7 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2022: Summited on 7 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2023: Summited on 17 May, via S Col – SE Ridge
• 2023: Summited on 23 May, via S Col – SE Ridge

Personal life of Kami Rita

The mountain man, Kami Rita Sherpa, was born in 1970 AD in the village of Thame, Solokhumbu district. Now, he lives in Kathmandu with his wife and two children. Although his father and brothers all worked as Sherpa guides, he wished to do other jobs. He once told the journalist, “We were poor and deprived of better education back then, so I had to choose this dangerous occupation as a means of survival. But now I am enjoying it”. But his family doesn’t want him to take risks repeatedly.

His wife, Lakpa Jangmu, is happy about his accomplishments but doesn’t want him to take risks again and again. “I keep telling him we could look for other jobs or start a small business. But he does not listen to me at all,” she said. Lakpa also stated that her children will not become mountain guides, as it invites many challenges and risks.

Article by

sanjib adhikari

Sanjib is a seasoned adventurer and a tourism expert who has spent the past 6 years immersed in Nepal's vibrant travel industry. He has trekked through Nepal's iconic landscapes in the Everest, Manaslu, Annapurna, and Langtang regions. He now spends his time writing about different places in Nepal and helping others travel effortlessly.