Kathmandu, Nepal – One of the world’s best mountain guides reclaimed his title for the most summits of Everest after reaching the summit for the 27th time on Wednesday.
Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks, based in Kathmandu, said 53-year-old Kami Rita, who climbed the world’s highest mountain at 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) while leading a group of climbers, was healthy and in good health.
Another guide, Pasang Dawa, climbed the mountain for the 26th time on Sunday, matching Rita’s mark last year.
The first wave of climbers of the season reached the summit over the weekend as Sherpas attached ropes and cleared the way for hundreds of climbers who will attempt the world’s highest peak for the rest of the month.
May is the best month to climb Everest as it is the month with the best weather conditions. There are usually only a few windows of good weather during this period that allow you to reach the top. As the month ends, the weather on the mountain worsens and the climb becomes more dangerous.
Climbers usually arrive at base camp in April and spend weeks acclimatising to the altitude, rough terrain and wind before climbing to the top.
By the first or second week of May they are usually trying to reach the peak. This year, the schedule was pushed back slightly in April after three Sherpas fell into a deep crevasse on a difficult section of the mountain. Rescuers have not been able to find them.
The number of toppers is expected to increase over the next two weeks. Nepalese authorities have issued around 470 climbing permits for this waterfall.
Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has climbed almost every year since then. He is one of many Sherpas whose experience and knowledge are vital to the safety and success of foreigners attempting to climb the mountain in all weather.
His father was one of the first Sherpa guides. Apart from climbing Everest, he has climbed other highest peaks of the world like K-2, Cho-Ou, Manaslu and Lhotse.
