Kami Rita Sherpa and Lhakpa Sherpa simultaneously rewrote the story of Mount Everest ascents. Kursiv Lifestyle learned how.
Kami Rita (55) ascended the world’s highest peak for the 32nd time on May 17, beating his world record for the number of Mount Everest ascents.
He completed his first ascent back in 1994. Over the past few decades, Kami Rita has become a living legend among climbers. In 2025, he was recognized by the Guinness World Records for the number of ascents on 8,000-meter peaks.
Before the current expedition, the climber said this season might be his last attempt on Everest.
On the same day, Lhakpa Sherpa (53), who is known as the Mountain Queen, set another record. She ascended Mount Everest for the 11th time, becoming the first woman in history to complete that many successful ascents.
Users are particularly impressed by Lhakpa’s story beyond mountaineering. She now lives in Connecticut, the U.S., and works as a dishwasher at a supermarket. At the same time, the climber continues to take part in world-class expeditions.
The first time Lhakpa ascended Everest was in 2000, without professional training. Moreover, she completed one ascent just eight months after giving birth to her daughter, and another while pregnant with her second child.
