According to Nepal’s Department of Tourism, Kami Rita reached the 8,849-metre peak at 10:12 am on May 17 while leading an expedition organised by 14 Peaks Expedition.
JUST IN: Renowned Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa has successfully scaled Mt #Everest (8848.86 m) for a record 32nd time this morning 17.05.2026, 10:12 NPT. CONGRATULATIONS!
Photo Courtesy: Seven Summit Treks. pic.twitter.com/L1nyvrd61J
— Everest Today (@EverestToday) May 17, 2026
Who Is Kami Rita Sherpa?
Kami Rita Sherpa is one of Nepal’s most experienced high-altitude guides working on the mountain. Born in Thame village in Solukhumbu district, he began his Everest journey in 1994. Since then, he has climbed Everest almost every year, except during seasons when expeditions were suspended due to several reasons.
ALSO READ | Nepal clarifies no new restrictions for Indians: Here’s what tourists should know
Apart from scaling Everest 32 times, Kami Rita has also climbed several other mountains above 8,000 metres. These include K2 and Lhotse once each, Manaslu three times, and Cho Oyu eight times. He had previously climbed Everest twice in both 2023 and 2024, while his 31st ascent was completed on May 27, 2025.
He broke the 21-time record he shared with two other Nepali Sherpa mountaineers, who later retired, in 2018 by becoming the first person to climb Mount Everest 22 times.
Following a previous record-breaking ascent, Kami Rita told the AFP news agency in May 2024 that he wasn’t really inspired by setting records and was ‘just working’.
“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,” he said.
Nepal celebrates sherpa climbers
Another Nepali climber, Lakhpa Sherpa, also achieved a milestone on Sunday by scaling Everest for the 11th time, the highest number of Everest summits by a woman.
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah congratulated both climbers, calling their achievement a symbol of courage, discipline, and dedication.
In a post on X, he said, “Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, is not merely a geographical elevation; it is the supreme symbol of Nepal’s self-respect, courage, patience, and Himalayan civilisation. On this glorious mountain today, Nepali climbers have once again written history.”
He also referred to Sherpas as the ‘unsung heroes of the Himalayas,’ saying, “Without their courage, knowledge, and labour, the glory of the mountains remains incomplete.”
World record 32 times Mount Everest climb.
विश्वको सर्वोच्च शिखर सगरमाथा केवल एउटा भौगोलिक उचाइको अवयव मात्रै होइन, नेपालको आत्मसम्मान, साहस, धैर्य र हिमाली सभ्यताको सर्वोच्च प्रतीक हो। यही गौरवशाली हिमालमाथि आज नेपाली आरोहीहरूले पुनः इतिहास लेखेका छन्।विश्वविख्यात आरोही कामी… pic.twitter.com/y6zVcj39X9
— Balen Shah (@ShahBalen) May 17, 2026
Everest season continues amid risks
Mount Everest was first successfully climbed in 1953 by Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary. Among non-Sherpa climbers, British mountaineer Kenton Cool holds the record with 19 Everest summits.
Nepal has issued 492 permits for Everest climbers during the current March-May climbing season. However, the season has also seen tragedy, with three Nepali climbers reportedly losing their lives on the mountain this month, reported Reuters.
