Kamirita scales Mt Everest for the 27th time, creates new history

KATHMANDU, May 17: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa today successfully ascended Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for the record 27th time, becoming the Everest summiteer with the highest number of ascends of this mountain to his credit. 

The 53-year-old mountaineer stood atop the highest mountain in the world today morning at 8:30 am, confirmed Yuwaraj Khatiwada, Director of the Department of Tourism. 

The original resident of Thame in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu district and currently residing in Kathmandu, Kamirita broke his own record of climbing the 8,848.86 meters mountain and thereby creating a new one. 

Khatiwada shared that the expedition was going on in full swing and the number of expedition groups making it to the top of Mt Everest today could not be ascertained owing to lack of communications with the climbers inching towards the summit.

He said that there was a high prospect of many mountaineers reaching atop Everest by today evening. "Some 'good news' could be broken by today evening," he remarked.  

Imagine Nepal Treks and Expedition Company's Director Mingma Gyalzen Sherpa informed that over 100 mountaineers including Kamirita have climbed Mt Everest so far this spring while as many were on a summit push bid today.

"Kamirita latest ascent has spread a message to the world that the mountaineering sector of Nepal is safe," asserted Khatiwada, adding, "The more ascends of Mt Everest, the better message goes out to the world encouraging the aspiring mountaineers and promoting mountaineering sector of Nepal."

Kamirita, who first set his feet atop Everest on May 13, 1994, has climbed many mountains over 8,000 meters at home and abroad over 39 times to date. 

Meanwhile, Pasang Dawa Sherpa is trailing Kamirita and ascended Everest for the 26th time this spring, it was shared. 

A record number of climbers are attempting to scale Mt Everest this spring as Nepal issued the highest number of Everest climbing permits in history for the season since the first successful ascent of Everest on May 29, 1953. 

The Department issued 478 permits for 44 groups for this season, it was shared.