Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa is welcomed after arriving at Tribhuvan airport in Kathmandu on May 27, 2022. (Photo by Bikash Karki/AFP via Getty Images) KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Veteran Sherpa guide Kami Rita has scaled Mount Everest for the 28th time Tuesday, beating his own record less than a week after setting it, as two guides compete with each other for the title of most climbs of the world's highest peak.Kami Rita, considered one of the greatest mountain guides, reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit at 9:20 a.m.
local time Tuesday, according to expedition organizer Seven Summits Treks.His latest climb comes a day after fellow Sherpa guide Pasang Dawa matched his record of 27 trips to the summit.RELATED: Sherpa guide climbs Mount Everest for 26th time, tying all-time recordThe race for the title began with Pasang Dawa climbing the peak for the 26th time on May 14, equaling Kami Rita's previous record.
Kami Rita went on to the peak three days later for the 27th time.With a few more days left in the spring climbing season, both Sherpa guides were on the mountain helping their clients up the snowy peak.
May is the busiest month to make the dangerous climb since it has the best weather conditions.Kami Rita first summitted Everest in 1994 and has been making the trip nearly every year since.