Sherpa Breaks Everest Climbing Record

A Sherpa from Nepal has broken the record for the most climbs to the top of Mount Everest. Kami Rita, 55, is a well-known guide in the Himalayas. He reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 31st time on Tuesday. He broke his own record of 30 climbs, which he set last year. Rita got to the top of the 8,849-metre mountain via the southeast route. He was the guide for a 22-member team from the Indian army. He also had help from 27 other Sherpas. The climb was organized by the company Seven Summit Treks. A company spokesman said Kami Rita was "a national climbing hero" and "a global symbol of Everest". Another spokesman called Rita "a very passionate climber". Kami Rita has the nickname "Everest Man". He first climbed Everest in 1994. He has led treks to the summit almost every year since then. He is one of more than 8,000 people to have got to the top of the world's highest peak. The first people to have officially climbed Everest were New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. They did this in 1953. More and more climbers are trying to get to the summit every year. They all need a special permit. In 2008, Nepal issued 160 permits. That number increased to 421 last year. Nepal limits the number of permits for safety reasons. There are many dangers to climbing Everest. These include altitude sickness, freezing weather, and avalanches.