On May 15, Kami Rita Sherpa led an Indian team to the听29,035-foot summit of Mount Everest. It was听his听23rd ascent of the world鈥檚 highest mountain鈥攁 record鈥攁nd solidified the 49-year-old鈥檚 status as one of the most accomplished high-altitude climbers of all time.听
Until last year, Kami Rita shared the record for most Everest ascents听with Apa Sherpa and Phurba Tashi Sherpa, with 21 summits each. But both Apa and Phurba Tashi听have retired from climbing, so when Kami Rita summited for a 22nd time last spring, he took sole possession of the title.听
Kami Rita, who works for Nepal-based Seven Summits Treks as a senior guide, made his first Everest summit听on May 13, 1994. He has summited听from the Nepal side 22 times and once from the Tibet side. Since 1994,听he has made 34 summits on five of the world鈥檚 14 8,000-meter peaks.听