The consistently highest man on Earth

Kami Rita summitted Mount Everest for the first time thirty-one years ago.

Last week, the 55-year-old Sherpa reached the peak again, marking his record-breaking 31st trek to the top of the world's tallest mountain—which, after meeting and knowing Kami for decades, would almost undoubtedly have some stories about him to share if its stones could talk.

One natural wonder meets another

For the last three decades, Kami has dedicated himself to climbing Everest at least once a year—sometimes twice if he's up for it. Since his initial ascent in 1994, he's only missed a handful of years, and only becuase the mountain was closed for various reasons, such as the Covid pandemic. 

• The Sherpa guide found his way to his career after seeing his father do the same. 

On his most recent trek, Kami was forced to turn around on his first attempt due to bad weather. He eventually reached the 29,032-foot-tall summit around 4am on May 27, guiding a group of 22 mountaineers from the Indian army alongside 27 other sherpas. 

• The sherpa "needs no introduction," according to his employer Seven Summit Treks. "He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself."

What he's saying: “I’m proud of this achievement,” Kami Rita told the NY Times. “This climb was a bit difficult because of harsh weather conditions. In my experience, over the last two or three years, climbing the mountain has become more difficult.”