2024-10-05 20:27:30
Is there a peak capable of slowing down the climb of the “Man of Everest“? At 53 years old, Nepalese mountaineer Kami Rita reached the summit of the highest mountain in the world (8,849 m) for the 28th time in his life. Reaching the summit of Everest for the second time in ten days, he broke his own world record a day after his compatriot Pasang Dawa had equaled it.
Everest is not the only peak on the record for this father of two, who has also climbed Lhotse (8,516m), K2 (8,611m) and Cho Oyu (8,188m) eight times.
A mountain guide for more than 20 years, Kami Rita first successfully climbed Everest in 1994, while working for a commercial expedition, but his first experience with this Himalayan mountain dates back to 1992, when he worked with… . a base camp cook.
First ascent at 24 years old
Since then, the veteran climber has climbed Everest almost every year, the first time at the age of 24. In particular, he led the first team to open the access route to the summit. The rest of the time he spends at base camp playing cards or training young Sherpas.
The 50-year-old comes from a family of enthusiasts. After Everest was made accessible to climbers from the southern slope in 1950, offering new climbing opportunities, Kami Rita’s father was one of the first professional Sherpa guides to accompany international climbers. His brother Lakpa Rita, also a guide, has climbed Everest 17 times.
From the height of her impressive performances, Rita Sherpa nevertheless remains a cautious climber, tirelessly reminding us that a climb is not accomplished alone, but with the help of a team that makes the undertaking possible. For his latest album he was also present as a guide, accompanying a group of tourists.
The thankless role of Sherpas
Nepal welcomes hundreds of climbers each season, when temperatures are milder and winds generally weaker. This season, 478 permits were issued to foreign climbers to climb Everest, a record. But this year ten climbers, including four Nepalese, have died on the world’s highest mountain.
Already in 2018 Kami Rita, who saw tourist arrivals increasing and expeditions becoming commonplace, complained about the lack of recognition towards the Sherpas. “Our government hasn’t done much for us. We are famous all over the world. Many foreigners know us, but our government does not care about us,” he regretted. Gulf Times.
The mountaineering industry in the Himalayas relies on the expertise of Sherpas, generally from the Everest valleys. They pay a high price to support hundreds of climbers every year. A third of Everest victims are Nepalese climbers. When asked about his children’s future, Kami Rita wants to keep them away from the mountain profession: “I don’t want them to work in the mountains. They will be interested in continuing their careers in other fields after their studies,” he said in 2018.
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