Nepali Sherpa scales Mount Everest for a record 31st time

FILE PHOTO: Kami Rita Sherpa, 53, a Nepali mountaineer, waves towards the media personnel upon his arrival after climbing Mount Everest for the 28th time, creating a new record for the most summits of the world’s highest mountain, in Kathmandu, Nepal May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar/File Photo

KATHMANDU (Reuters) -Nepali Sherpa guide Kami Rita scaled Mount Everest for the 31st time on Tuesday, breaking the record he set last year.

The 55-year-old reached the 8,849-metre (29,032 foot) peak - the highest in the world - by the traditional southeast ridge route while guiding a 22-member Indian army team, officials said, adding that 27 other Sherpas also accompanied the group.