A Nepali sherpa achieved a remarkable feat by reaching the summit of Mount Everest for a record 28th time, completing his second ascent within a week. The climbing season this year has unfortunately witnessed a toll of 11 lives. The sherpa, Kami Rita Sherpa, 53 years old, successfully climbed the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit via the traditional southeast ridge route, following his 27th climb just the previous week.
The southeast ridge route, pioneered by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953, remains the most popular path to the world’s highest peak. Kami Rita, who works for the Seven Summit Treks company, is known for his passion for climbing. He has been ascending Everest since his first successful climb in 1994, with only a few years skipped due to mountain closures.
Another sherpa climber also achieved a significant milestone by scaling Everest for the 27th time. Additionally, British climber Kenton Cool accomplished his 17th ascent, the highest number by a foreigner. However, the inherent dangers of the mountain were evident as two more deaths occurred over the weekend, bringing the total fatalities to 11 since April.
Among the casualties was a Nepali sherpa who lost his life while working to clean the mountain. The Australian engineer, Jason Kennison, passed away during the descent from the summit due to high-altitude sickness. Efforts to provide him with additional oxygen canisters were hampered by strong winds.
The toll of 11 includes three sherpas who perished in April due to a serac fall and others who succumbed to illness and weakness. Furthermore, two climbers, one from Singapore and one from Malaysia, have been reported missing for the past three days. Mount Everest continues to pose significant risks, underscoring the challenges faced by climbers attempting to conquer its treacherous heights.