Kami Rita facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Everest Man Kami Rita
Rita in 2010
Born	(1970-01-17) January 17, 1970 (age 56) Thame, Nepal
Other names	Everest Man
Citizenship	Nepalese
Occupation	Mountaineering
Years active	1992–present
Known for	32 ascents of Mount Everest
Spouse(s)	Lakpa Jangmu
Children	2

Kami Rita Sherpa (born on January 17, 1970) is a brave Nepalese Sherpa guide. He holds an amazing world record for climbing to the very top of Mount Everest more times than anyone else! He has held this incredible record since May 2018. Most recently, he reached the summit of Everest for the 32nd time on May 17, 2026. This climb broke his own previous record, which he set on May 27, 2025.

Kami Rita comes from a family of climbers. His father was one of the first professional Sherpa guides when Mount Everest first welcomed foreign climbers in the 1950s. His brother, Lakpa Rita, is also a guide and has climbed Everest 17 times. Kami Rita's dedication and skill have made him a legend in the world of mountaineering.

Kami Rita Sherpa: The Everest Man

Kami Rita is often called the "Everest Man" because of his many climbs. In 2017, he was one of three people to reach the Everest summit 21 times. He shared this record with Apa Sherpa and Phurba Tashi Sherpa. Both of them later retired from climbing.

On May 16, 2018, when he was 48 years old, Kami Rita made history. He became the first person ever to climb Mount Everest 22 times. This set a new world record for the most summits on the world's highest peak, which stands at 8,848 meters (29,031 feet) tall. He has continued to break his own record many times since then.

Kami Rita also holds the record for climbing the most "8,000-meter peaks." These are mountains that are over 8,000 meters (about 26,247 feet) high. He has done this a total of 42 times! Besides his many Everest climbs, he has also summited Cho-Oyu eight times. He also climbed Lhotse in 2011, K2 in 2014, and Manaslu in 2023.

A Life of Climbing: Kami Rita's Career

Kami Rita's journey with mountains began early. His brother, Lakpa Rita, says Kami's first mountain job was in 1992. He helped a cook at the Everest Base Camp. Other stories say he worked as a porter, carrying gear to Base Camp, when he was just 12 years old. By the time he was 24, he had already reached the top of Mount Everest.

Sherpa guides like Kami Rita play a vital role in helping climbers reach the summit. They set up ropes, carry supplies, and guide people through dangerous paths. It is a very challenging and risky job. Kami Rita has shared that while climbing is safer now with better gear and weather forecasts, it is still very dangerous. He mentioned that deep cracks in the ice, called crevasses, and unpredictable slopes make the job tough. Sherpas face many risks, and they make up a significant number of those who have lost their lives on Everest.

In 2018, Kami Rita earned about $10,000 for each Everest climb. This was due to his vast experience. The best time to climb Nepal's highest peaks is usually around May. In the autumn, he guides clients up smaller mountains.

As of May 2019, Kami Rita worked for Seven Summit Treks. This company organizes climbing trips. Before 2018, he worked for an American company called Alpine Ascents International. Since August 2019, he has also been a Brand Ambassador and Chief Adventure Consultant for Himalayan Glacier Adventure and Travel Company. He plans to keep climbing as long as his body allows him to. Kami Rita is also a brand ambassador for a cement product made in Nepal.

Kami Rita's Record-Breaking Climbs

Kami Rita has continuously pushed the boundaries of mountaineering.

• On May 7, 2021, he summited Everest for the 25th time, setting a new record.
• He broke his own record again on May 7, 2022, with his 26th ascent.
• On May 17, 2023, he completed his 27th climb of Mount Everest. This happened just three days after another Sherpa, Pasang Dawa, matched his previous record of 26 ascents.
• Pasang Dawa then equalized the record again on May 22, 2023, with his 27th summit.
• The very next day, on May 23, Kami Rita scaled Everest for the 28th time, extending his lead.
• He reached the summit for the 31st time on May 27, 2025.
• His most recent achievement was his 32nd summit on May 17, 2026, further solidifying his place in history.

Life Beyond the Mountains

Kami Rita was born and grew up in Thame. This is a small village in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. He lived with his large family in a simple one-room house. Thame is famous for being the home of many great Sherpa mountaineers. One of them is Tenzing Norgay, who, with Sir Edmund Hillary, made the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953.

When he was young, Kami Rita thought about becoming a monk. He spent some time at the Thame Dechen Chokhorling monastery. However, he eventually decided to follow a different path.

Today, Kami Rita lives in Kathmandu with his wife, Lakpa Jangmu, and their two children. He believes strongly in education. He has made sure his children are getting a good education. This way, they can choose jobs that are less dangerous than mountain guiding. He explained that in the past, many Sherpas had few choices. They had to climb dangerous mountains to earn a living.

His wife, Lakpa Jangmu, has shared her hopes for him to retire from climbing. She has suggested they could find other jobs or start a small business. However, Kami Rita loves climbing and continues his work. She has also confirmed that their children will not become mountain guides.

Kami Rita's Everest Journeys

Here is a timeline of Kami Rita's many climbs to Mount Everest:

Want to Learn More?

• List of Mount Everest summiters by number of times to the summit
• List of 20th-century summiters of Mount Everest
• Lhakpa Sherpa
• Phurba Tashi