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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Who is Kami Rita? Nepalese sherpa climbs Mount Everest for the 31st time, breaks own record
Famed Nepalese Sherpa guide Kami Rita has broken his record for the most successful expeditions of the world's highest peak by scaling Mount Everest for the 31st time. According to Mingma Sherpa, chairman of the Seven Summit Treks, the expedition organiser, the 55-year-old Kami Rita stood at the top of the 8,849-meter summit at around 4 am on Tuesday under stable weather conditions. The climber was guiding a team of the Indian Army Adventure Wing Everest Expedition led by Lieutenant Colonel Manoj Joshi, The Kathmandu Post reported. 'This new feat cements his status as the record holder for the highest number of ascents to the top of the world — a record that no one else has come close to,' Mingma was quoted as saying. He further informed that Kami Rita is safe and stable after the summit, adding that the Sherpa has started his descent and is on his way back to the base camp. "As always, Kami has demonstrated his unmatched skills and professionalism on the mountain. We are immensely proud of his achievement and the legacy he continues to build," he added. In the last two years, Kami Rita has made successful ascents to Mount Everest twice each season, taking his total completed expedition tally to 30. According to The Associated Press, Kami had tried to climb to the summit a few days ago but was forced to return due to bad weather. Several hundred climbers have tried to climb Mount Everest from the Nepali side of the peak in the south this season, which will come to an end this weekend. The majority of expeditions to Everest and other nearby Himalayan peaks takes place in April and May, when the weather is most favourable. Born in the Solukumbhi region, the Sherpa community's heartland that has long powered these expeditions, Kami Rita began his mountaineering journey in 1992 when he joined an expedition group to Everest as a support staff member. He first climbed Everest in 1994 and has been returning to the world's highest peak nearly every year since. Additionally, Kami Rita's father was among the first Sherpa mountain guides. Chhang Dawa Sherpa, expedition director at Seven Summit Treks, said that Kami developed a deep sense of passion for climbing at a young age and has been scaling peaks for over two decades now. Over the years, he has grown to become one of the most famous Sherpa guides whose expertise is significant to the safety and success of foreign climbers aspiring to scale the Everest each year. According to Chhang Dawa, Kami Rita has also scaled K2 and Mt Lhotse once each, Manaslu thrice, and Cho Oyu eight times between 1994 and 2025. Kami Rita's closest competitor happens to be a fellow Sherpa guide, Pasand Dawa, who has made 29 successful ascents of Mount Everest. New Zealand-based Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first ones to climb Everest in 1953.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- The Hindu
Nepal to restrict Mt Everest permits to only those who have already done 7,000m climbs
Nepal is planning to restrict expeditions to Mount Everest only to those mountaineers who have climbed at least one peak above 7,000 metres aimed at reducing deaths in the high altitude zone, a media report said. Why is climbing Mount Everest so dangerous? Ever since New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepal's Sherpa Tenzing Norgay summited the 8,849 metres (29,032 feet) high Mt Everest, popular as Sagarmatha in Nepali, on May 29, 1953, thousands of climbers from all over the world, including India and Nepal, have been attracted to the highest peak in the world. Official data shows that since 1953's Hillary-Norgay summit, around 9,000 mountaineers have successfully scaled Mt Everest while over 300 have lost their lives. 'Prove yourself first' 'The 8,848.86-metre Everest is about to get a stricter gatekeeper. No longer will just any climber with ambition and a permit be able to attempt the world's highest peak. A new draft law says: 'Prove yourself first'. Nepal hikes Mount Everest climbing fee by 36% 'According to the Integrated Tourism Bill registered in the upper house of Parliament on April 18, any climber wishing to set foot on Everest must first have conquered a mountain over 7,000 metres,' The Kathmandu Post said. Pointing out that this spring alone, more than 400 enthusiasts have been granted permission for the Everest climbing and the number will likely increase to at least 500, a leader in the Kathmandu Post on Tuesday said: Such high numbers, no matter how beneficial for Nepal's economy, have a darker side: unusual traffic jams, an increase in the deaths of climbers (for instance, 17 deaths in 2023 and eight in 2024), rapid glacier melt and the spreading image of Everest as the 'world's highest garbage dump'. Health check mandatory Among the many restrictions mentioned in the Bill, health checks will be mandatory; climbers will need a certificate from a government-approved medical institution, issued within the past month, to confirm their medical fitness for ascent, and individuals with health complications will be excluded from participating in an expedition. The bill is still in draft form and must pass through debates in both houses of Parliament with changes likely before the final law is signed off, the newspaper said, adding, 'Still, what's already outlined in the bill paints a clear picture: the government is trying to bring order, accountability, and safety to the mountains.' Expensive to retrieve bodies Retrieving bodies of those who die on Everest is an expensive and risky operation, often costing anywhere between $20,000 and $200,000. The new bill proposes better dead body management insurance. Another top priority for the government is cleaning up Everest and the draft bill replaces the current $4,000 refundable garbage deposit with a non-refundable garbage fee, the Kathmandu Post added.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
We Analyze What the Proposed New Everest Law Actually Means
While a snowy spell keeps climbers in Base Camp this week, the Nepal Parliament is considering a new law to regulate the highest mountain on Earth. The so-called Integrated Tourism Bill reached Nepal's upper House of Parliament on April 18. It includes measures aimed to "address the issue of overcrowding, enhance climber safety, and mitigate ecological concerns on Everest," according to an article in The Kathmandu Post. This sort of news is familiar from previous years. Typically, well-meaning or well-sounding laws are proposed to radically alter the business of Everest climbing in the name of safety and the environment. They never get far. Small adjustments that do make it through usually benefit the local expedition operators. For now, the initial proposed law includes what sounds like some potentially strong measures. Let's look at them more closely: 1. Everest climbers must have previous experience at 7,000m Many accidents have shown that previous experience at 7,000m or 8,000m does not prove a climber is skilled or self-sufficient enough to make his or her own decisions. It only ensures these climbers will buy their way onto another expedition before Everest. Because here's the rub: The law requires that the "preparatory" 7,000m peak must be in Nepal. Mountains like Denali, Aconcagua, or even Ama Dablam (which is slightly less than 7,000m) are not considered suitable preparation. It is little wonder that local operators approve of this idea. They are already planning to enlarge their offerings for fully supported expeditions on Nepal's 7,000m peaks. There are seventy-two 7,000'ers open for climbing in Nepal, not counting the secondary summits of 8,000m peaks. They range from the extremely difficult, like Jannu, to the relatively straightforward, like Himlung Himal and Baruntse. The proposal does not mention the climbing style, use of oxygen, or support. 2. All guides must be Nepalese citizens The new proposal mandates that the guides accompanying the climbers must be Nepali citizens. Theoretically, that eliminates international mountain guides. But nothing prevents a foreign guide from climbing with a private client, as long as both have Nepali guides with them. This is already the usual strategy on expeditions. It is unclear how the law will identify a "guide" among Nepalese workers with vastly different experience at altitude. 3. Mandatory health checks and declaring record quests The law establishes that all Everest climbers must have a medical certificate proving they are in good health. Almost everyone already does this voluntarily. Many international outfitters insist on such precautions from potential clients. However, the certificate mentioned in the law must come from a "government-approved" medical institution, meaning it must be obtained in Nepal. Climbers must also declare if they are pursuing any kind of mountaineering record. There is already a record-oriented market well-publicized by the outfitters (and by the climbers who attempt them). The law suggests that if force majeure -- war, disaster, etc. -- disrupts their climb, they won't get a refund, but they will receive a permit valid for two years or a discounted fee for another peak. 4. New routes approved by Liaison Officer There is an interesting note about climbers aiming for new routes on Everest, if anyone is still interested. First, they must receive permission from the Department of Tourism in advance. Second, they must stick to their planned line once on the new route. "In emergencies, climbers can reroute, but only with the approval of a government liaison officer," it says. This refers to an expedition's official liaison officer (LO), a sinecure position that The Kathmandu Post calls "a form of institutional bribery." These LOs are rarely in Base Camp. "It is hard to picture a climber opening a new route on Everest who gets into an emergency situation and waits for a green light from a LO," the article points out. The proposed law contains a few other points related to garbage disposal, retrieving dead climbers, and other costs. The proposal is noticeably silent on any limitations to the number of climbing permits or restrictions on how many people can climb the mountain at the same time. According to the latest update from Nepal's Department of Tourism, there are 374 permits granted for Everest until April 21. However, The Kathmandu Post had access to the unpublished list that covers up to April 26. Just five days later, the tally had risen from 374 to 402. Local operators expect a record year, with up to 500 foreign climbers, plus an even higher number of local staff assisting them. In the end, the question is whether the proposed new rules are meant to improve safety and prevent pollution or to further squeeze the country's golden goose. This draft proposal has a long way to go. It has to be debated, modified, and then pass through the two chambers of Nepal's parliament. Officials at the Ministry of Tourism told The Kathmandu Post that changes are likely before the final law is enacted. After that, there is usually at least one year before the law is implemented to allow the market to adjust. Here is a PDF of the proposed bill in Nepali.
The Print
29-04-2025
- The Print
Nepal to restrict Mt Everest to only those who have done 7k mtrs climbs
Official data shows that since 1953's Hillary-Norgay summit, around 9,000 mountaineers have successfully scaled Mt Everest while over 300 have lost their lives. Ever since New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepal's Sherpa Tenzing Norgay summited the 8,849 metres (29,032 feet) high Mt Everest, popular as Sagarmatha in Nepali, on May 29, 1953, thousands of climbers from all over the world, including India and Nepal, have been attracted to the highest peak in the world. Kathmandu, Apr 29 (PTI) Nepal is planning to restrict expeditions to Mt Everest only to those mountaineers who have climbed at least one peak above 7,000 metres aimed at reducing deaths in the high altitude zone, a media report said. 'The 8,848.86-metre Everest is about to get a stricter gatekeeper. No longer will just any climber with ambition and a permit be able to attempt the world's highest peak. A new draft law says: 'Prove yourself first'. 'According to the Integrated Tourism Bill registered in the upper house of Parliament on April 18, any climber wishing to set foot on Everest must first have conquered a mountain over 7,000 metres,' The Kathmandu Post said. Pointing out that this spring alone, more than 400 enthusiasts have been granted permission for the Everest climbing and the number will likely increase to at least 500, a leader in the Kathmandu Post on Tuesday said: Such high numbers, no matter how beneficial for Nepal's economy, have a darker side: unusual traffic jams, an increase in the deaths of climbers (for instance, 17 deaths in 2023 and eight in 2024), rapid glacier melt and the spreading image of Everest as the 'world's highest garbage dump'. Among the many restrictions mentioned in the Bill, health checks will be mandatory; climbers will need a certificate from a government-approved medical institution, issued within the past month, to confirm their medical fitness for ascent, and individuals with health complications will be excluded from participating in an expedition. The bill is still in draft form and must pass through debates in both houses of Parliament with changes likely before the final law is signed off, the newspaper said, adding, 'Still, what's already outlined in the bill paints a clear picture: the government is trying to bring order, accountability, and safety to the mountains.' Retrieving bodies of those who die on Everest is an expensive and risky operation, often costing anywhere between USD 20,000 and USD 200,000. The new bill proposes better dead body management insurance. Another top priority for the government is cleaning up Everest and the draft bill replaces the current USD 4,000 refundable garbage deposit with a non-refundable garbage fee, the Kathmandu Post added. PTI NPK NPK NPK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hans India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Nepal: Teachers protesting for education reforms clash with police
Kathmandu: Police and protesting teachers clashed at New Baneshwar in Nepal on Sunday during a demonstration, according to local media reports. The confrontation broke out when teachers gathered on the Bijulibazar–New Baneshwar road section and attempted to breach a restricted area, prompting police to intervene. Tensions escalated rapidly, as protesters hurled stones at the police. In response, police forces used batons and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators, according to the leading Nepali newspaper, The Kathmandu Post. The Teachers' Federation Nepal, an umbrella body representing school teachers, has been staging demonstrations for the past 25 days, demanding the immediate promulgation of the School Education Act that incorporates their various demands. The agitating teachers have remained firm on continuing their protests until the Bill is passed and their concerns are addressed. A major demand of the protesting teachers is to ensure pay and perks on par with those of civil servants. Other demands include the payment of grades, allowances for relief quota teachers, and the establishment of a separate dedicated hospital or discounted health checkup services at the Civil Service Hospital. Permanent status for temporary teachers through internal competitions is another key demand. Additionally, teachers have also sought to be placed under the federal government's purview, although this demand has been downplayed following criticism that it contradicts the spirit of the Constitution. Talks between the government and school teachers, held nearly a month after the agitation began, ended without any agreement on Saturday. The protesters remained steadfast in their demand for the immediate promulgation of the School Education Act as their bottom line. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Nepal has issued an interim order asking the government to address the legitimate demands of the protesting teachers and ensure that the teachers return to classrooms. The order stated that the ongoing teachers' protests in the country have violated the student's right to education, and it would continue if the court didn't intervene, local media reported.
