Everest Record-Holder Urges Nepal to Limit Climber Permits

Kami Rita Sherpa, who reached the summit of Mount Everest for a record 32nd time this week, urged Nepalese authorities on Friday to limit the number of climbers allowed on the peak. The 8,849-meter mountain has seen higher traffic this season because China has closed its northern route from Tibet.

On Wednesday, 274 climbers reached the summit from the Nepal side, the highest single-day total recorded from that route. Nepal has issued 494 climbing permits for the current season, with an equal number of Sherpa guides accompanying the permit holders.

Sherpa guides provide essential expertise for foreign climbers attempting the ascent.

Sherpa told reporters at Kathmandu airport that conditions were more crowded than last year. He said the increased number of clients created longer waits on fixed ropes and exposed climbers to extended periods of harsh weather. Climbers have only brief windows of suitable weather for summit attempts.

Large groups waiting in rope lines raise the risk of traffic jams and prolonged exposure to high-altitude conditions. Kami Rita Sherpa, 56, first climbed Everest in 1994 and has repeated the ascent nearly every year since. He has also summited other major peaks including K2, Cho Oyu, Manaslu, and Lhotse.

Pasang Dawa Sherpa, his closest competitor, reached the summit for the 31st time on Friday, marking his second ascent of the week.