Nepali Climber Sets Record with 30th Everest Summit

A 54-year-old Nepali climber nicknamed "Everest Man" reached the summit of Mount Everest for a record 30th time, three decades after his first ascent of the world's highest peak.

Kami Rita Sherpa broke his own record set earlier this month when he summited Everest for the 29th time. Though he has said he is "just working" and not pursuing records, his latest climb establishes a new milestone.

"Kami Rita reached the summit this morning. Now he has made a new record with 30 summits of Everest," said Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks, the expedition organizer.

However, the celebrations were overshadowed by tragedy as a Romanian climber was confirmed dead, and a British climber and Nepali guide were reported missing - the latest casualties underscoring the risks of mountaineering.

Sherpa first stood atop Everest's 8,849-meter summit in 1994 while working for a commercial expedition. Since then, he has climbed Everest almost annually while guiding clients.

"I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken," Sherpa said after his 29th ascent on May 12. "I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognized in the world."

The death toll this season has now reached five. Efforts are underway to locate the missing British climber and his Nepali guide, last sighted near the summit as they descended.

This year, Nepal issued over 900 permits for its mountains, including 419 for Everest, earning over $5 million in royalties. Around 500 climbers have already summited Everest this spring after a rope-fixing team opened the route last month.

Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring season. Last year saw a record 18 fatalities on Everest despite over 600 successful summits.