Everest Man At 32: Kami Rita Sherpa Pushes Human Limits Higher Than Ever

Ashik Bothra May 17, 2026 370 Views

Nepal’s legendary mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa has broken his own world record yet again by summiting Mount Everest for an unprecedented 32nd time during the Spring 2026 climbing season. The 56-year-old, famously known as “Everest Man”, reached the 8,849-metre peak while leading a commercial expedition, cementing a record that now looks almost untouchable in modern mountaineering.

Nepal’s Department of Tourism confirmed that Kami Rita reached the top of Everest at around 10:12 am local time, guiding climbers for 14 Peaks Expedition. This latest ascent comes just a year after he set the previous benchmark with his 31st summit in 2025, already recognised by Guinness World Records as the most Everest ascents by any climber. With his 32nd success, Kami Rita has moved his own record even further out of reach, reinforcing his status as the face of Everest itself.

From Thame Village To The Top Of The World

Born in January 1970 in Thame village in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, Kami Rita grew up in a Sherpa family closely tied to the mountains his father was also a high-altitude guide. He first summited Everest in 1994 while working for a commercial team and has returned almost every year since, sometimes twice in a single season. Beyond Everest, he has notched up over 40 ascents of 8,000-metre peaks, making him one of the most accomplished high-altitude guides in history.

What His 32nd Summit Means For Mountaineering

Kami Rita often says he is “just doing his job”, but the numbers tell a different story: no one else comes close. His nearest rival for Everest summits, fellow Nepali Pasang Dawa Sherpa, stands at 29 ascents. Each additional climb by Kami Rita widens that gap and raises questions about how far the human body can repeatedly push into the death zone. At the same time, his record highlights how Sherpa climbers quietly carry the weight of commercial expeditions while global clients collect summit photos.

Everest Record Highlights

Kami Rita Sherpa reaches the summit of Mount Everest for a record 32nd time in Spring 2026
Summit achieved around 10:12 am local time while leading a 14 Peaks Expedition team
Extends his own world record for most Everest ascents, after 31st summit in 2025
First Everest summit in 1994; has climbed the peak almost every year since, sometimes twice a season
Born in Thame, Solukhumbu; has completed over 40 ascents of 8,000-metre peaks overall
Nearest rival, Pasang Dawa Sherpa, stands at 29 Everest summits, far behind Kami Rita’s new mark