Two top Nepalese Sherpa guides jointly broke their own world records on Mount Everest on the same day. Kami Rita Sherpa, nicknamed "Everest Man," aged 56, led a climbing team to the summit for the 32nd time, while Lakpa Sherpa, known as the "Queen of the Mountains," aged 52, reached the summit for the 11th time.
Two leading Nepalese guides simultaneously set new personal world records by successfully summiting Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak at 8,849 meters, on Sunday, 17 May 2025 GMT+7.
Kami Rita Sherpa, 56, also called the "Everest Man," set a new world record by leading clients from 14 Peaks Expedition to Everest's summit for the 32nd time, surpassing his previous personal record.
Kami Rita first summited Everest in 1994 while working in commercial trekking, and since then has ascended almost every year guiding international climbers. In some years, he climbed twice in a single season. Previously, he shared the record of 21 ascents with two other Sherpa climbers before they retired.
However, in 2024, Kami Rita stated, "I just do my work as usual; I never intended to set records."
On the same day, Lakpa Sherpa, 52, known as the "Queen of the Mountains," made history by summiting Everest for the 11th time, setting the world record for the most Everest ascents by a female climber.
Back in 2000, Lakpa was the first Nepalese woman to safely reach and descend from Everest's summit. Her life story as a single mother and world-class climber was featured in the 2023 Netflix documentary film "Mountain Queen."
Following this significant achievement, Nepal's Department of Tourism congratulated the historic success. Spokesperson Himal Gautam said, "This is another milestone in Nepal's climbing history. Their records will inspire other climbers, and breaking records through healthy competition on Everest will promote safer, honorable, and better-managed climbing."
Meanwhile, Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah posted on X praising the two climbers: "Today, Nepalese climbers have once again made history on this magnificent mountain. Such historic success is only possible through courageous determination, strict self-discipline, and sincere dedication to their work."
Prime Minister Shah also honored the entire Sherpa community, calling them "unsung heroes of the Himalayas" who bravely face risks to guide climbers worldwide safely to this sacred Buddhist site.
Everest climbing has become a lucrative industry since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa first summited in 1953. This season, Nepal issued a record 492 climbing permits to foreign climbers, resulting in crowded base camps filled with numerous tents.
Since most foreign climbers must ascend with at least one local Nepalese guide, nearly 1,000 climbers are expected to head toward the summit simultaneously in the coming days.
This unprecedented number has raised concerns about "traffic jams" and overcrowding on the ascent route, especially this year when a large, hazardous glacier block has obstructed the base camp path. Additionally, adverse weather could shorten the climbing window, increasing safety risks for all climbers.