Double Records on Mount Everest: Kami Rita Sherpa’s 32nd, Lhakpa Sherpa’s 11th
At 10:12 a.m. Nepal time on May 16, 2026, Kami Rita Sherpa, 56, set foot on the summit of Mount Everest for the 32nd time in his career, breaking his own world record for the most ascents of the planet’s highest peak . Less than an hour earlier, Lhakpa Sherpa, 52, became the first woman in history to conquer the world’s tallest mountain for the 11th time . Both records were established on the same day, creating a memorable milestone in Nepal’s mountaineering history .
These two legendary climbers not only represent the strength of the Sherpa people but also inspire thousands of others to pursue their passion for conquering the highest peaks.
1. Kami Rita Sherpa – “Mr. Everest” with 32 Summits
Kami Rita Sherpa was born on January 17, 1970, in Thame village, Solukhumbu, Nepal, into a family with a long-standing mountaineering tradition . His father served as a Sirdar (head Sherpa) on Mount Everest. In 1994, at age 24, Kami Rita first conquered the world’s highest peak as a guide for a commercial expedition .
For over three decades, Kami Rita has rarely missed a climbing season, except for years when avalanche disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic forced expedition cancellations . The Guinness World Records has recognized him with 42 ascents of peaks above 8,000 meters, including 32 summits of Mount Everest as of 2026 .
Beyond Everest, Kami Rita’s achievements include: K2 (1 time), Lhotse (1 time), Manaslu (5 times), and Cho Oyu (8 times) .
Before departing for the spring 2026 summit, Kami Rita shared with Anadolu Agency that he was returning to work as a guide, not to set more records or seek fame . He also revealed that this was likely his last Everest climb .
2. Lhakpa Sherpa – “Mountain Queen” with 11 Summits
On that same morning, Lhakpa Sherpa, 52, reached the summit of Everest at 9:30 a.m., becoming the first woman in the world to conquer the “roof of the world” 11 times . Lhakpa first summited Everest in 2000 and was the first Nepali woman to achieve this feat .
She is known as the “Mountain Queen” and serves as an inspiration for many Nepali women to pursue their passion for mountaineering. Both climbers began their careers doing physical labor (porters) before becoming professional guides .
3. Context: Nepal Issued Record Number of Permits
According to Nepal’s tourism authorities, in the spring of 2026, the government issued 492 Everest climbing permits . This figure continues to break previous records, demonstrating the powerful allure of the world’s highest mountain for global adventurers.
However, the large number of climbers simultaneously on the mountain has also raised concerns about overcrowding on the summit route .
Primary Sources:
Anadolu Ajansı – “Kami Rita Sherpa summits Everest for record 32nd time” (2026)
Al Jazeera – “Two Nepali Sherpa climbers break own records on Mount Everest” (2026)
The Kathmandu Post – “Kami Rita Sherpa receives Guinness World Records certificate for 42 high-altitude summits” (2025)
The Himalayan Times – “Kami Rita, Lhakpa Sherpa script history with record Everest summits on same day” (2026)
DW – “Two Nepali climbers break own Everest records” (2026)
Bernama – “Famed Mountain Guide Kami Rita Sherpa Summits Everest For Record 32nd Time” (2026)