KATHMANDU, MAY 1
Veteran climber Kami Rita Sherpa, who holds the world record for climbing Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) 28 times, is preparing to set a new record.
The 54-year-old Sherpa, who ascended the world's highest peak for the 28th time last year, is gearing up for his 29th ascent this year. He has already reached the Everest Base Camp in preparation.
"This year, I have set out to climb Sagarmatha for the 29th time. I have no specific plan regarding how many times I'll climb Sagarmatha. Let me ascend towards the summit and see how far I can go," said Kami Rita, who reached the Base Camp via Lukla and Namche. He embarked on the expedition from Kathmandu a week ago as part of the Spring Season Everest expedition.
He is leading a mountaineering expedition team comprising about 28 climbers.
The expedition is managed by Seven Summit Treks Pvt Ltd. Mingma Sherpa, Chairperson of Seven Summit Treks, confirmed that Kami Rita has reached the Everest Base Camp for his 29th ascent on Sagarmatha through their company. According to Mingma, most of the climbers have reached the Base Camp and are awaiting the appropriate time for the climb.
Eighty mountaineers have set out to ascend Sagarmatha via the Seven Summit Treks Company alone this time. Kami Rita has been guiding the climbers and will set a new record by surpassing his own previous record if he succeeds in climbing Sagarmatha this time.
Kami Rita holds the record for the highest number of ascents on the world's tallest peak in the 71-year-long history of Sagarmatha climbing. Pasang Dawa Sherpa, also from Solukhumbu, climbed Sagarmatha for the 27th time last year, but it is not confirmed whether he will be attempting the climb this time.
"I am going to climb Sagarmatha; I have no other purpose," Kami Rita said. "I have simply continued the profession of mountain climbing; I have not climbed for a record."
