KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – One of the most distinguished mountain guides, Kami Rita, aged 55, is set to make his 31st ascent of Mount Everest, potentially aiming for a 32nd climb to further establish his record. Rita departed from Kathmandu to Mount Everest on Sunday, leading a group of climbers aspiring to reach the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit during the spring climbing season.
Kami Rita expressed confidence as he prepared for the climb, stating, “I am mentally, emotionally and physically prepared to climb the mountain. I am in my top physical condition right now.” As the holder of the record for the most successful ascents of Mount Everest, which currently stands at 30, he completed two climbs in May of the previous year.
Despite his ambitions for personal achievement, Rita emphasized that his first priority is the safety and success of his clients, saying, “My first priority is to get my client to the summit of the peak. Then I will decide on whether I will climb the peak more than one time during the season. It depends on the weather and conditions on the mountain.”
Currently, Kami Rita's closest competitor is fellow Sherpa guide Pasang Dawa, who has made 27 successful ascents of Everest. Kami Rita first tackled Everest in 1994 and has been returning to the peak nearly every year since. His invaluable expertise and guidance contribute significantly to the safety and success of foreign climbers striving to achieve the ultimate goal of standing atop the world’s highest mountain.
Rita is part of a legacy of Sherpa guides; his father was one of the pioneering Sherpa mountain guides. Beyond his remarkable record on Everest, he has also successfully scaled other towering peaks including K2, Cho Oyu, Manaslu, and Lhotse.
According to the Department of Tourism in Nepal, a total of 214 climbers have received permits to attempt Mount Everest from the Nepali side during this climbing season, which runs until May. The peak climbing season typically peaks in April and May when favorable weather conditions allow for expeditions.
Historically, Mount Everest was first successfully summited in 1953 by New Zealand’s Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. As the climbing season progresses, many will be watching to see if Kami Rita can break his own record and continue to enhance his legendary status in the realm of mountaineering.
Binaj Gurubacharya, The Associated Press
