British Guide Kenton Cool Completes 20th Ascent of Mount Everest

British mountain guide Kenton Cool reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 20th time this week. Cool, 52, broke his own record for the most ascents of the peak by a non-Sherpa guide. Cool spoke to reporters after flying from the mountain to Kathmandu on Sunday. He said he may attempt the climb two or three more times.

Cool had stated last year that he planned to climb Everest only once more before moving to smaller peaks. He reached the 8,849-meter summit on Friday during a short period of good weather. A total of 274 climbers reached the summit on Wednesday via the southern route in Nepal, setting a single-day record.

Nepalese authorities issued permits to 494 climbers and an equal number of Sherpa guides this season.

A serac above the route delayed attempts and forced climbers into a narrow weather window. Chinese authorities closed the northern route from Tibet for the year. Cool said his group encountered no issues or crowds. Cool said the focus should remain on climber experience rather than limiting total numbers.

Nepal's mountaineering authorities are considering new rules that would require proof of prior experience beyond the $15,000 permit fee.