UK and Nepali climbers set new records on Mount Everest

Mount Everest had a very special day on Sunday when Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa and Briton Kenton Cool reached the top of the mountain. Kami Rita Sherpa, who is 54 years old, reached the peak for the 29th time, while Kenton Cool, who is 50 years old, made his 18th summit. This means they broke records for the most times a Nepali and a foreigner have reached the top of Mount Everest. Kami Rita Sherpa, also known as "Everest Man", first climbed the 8,849-meter peak in 1994 while working for a commercial expedition. Since then, he has climbed Everest almost every year, guiding clients. Kenton Cool, who is also a guide, was once told he would not walk again after a rock-climbing accident in 1996, but he has defied expectations and continued his mountaineering career. Most climbers who attempt to reach the top of Everest are guided by Nepali guides. This year, more than 800 climbers are expected to make the journey to the summit after a group of Nepali climbers opened the route. China also reopened the Tibetan route to foreigners this year after closing it in 2020 due to the pandemic. Mountaineering has become a big business since the first ascent of Everest in 1953. More than 600 climbers made it to the summit last year, but it was also the deadliest season on record, with 18 fatalities. Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 tallest peaks, including Everest, making mountain climbing a major tourism activity and source of income for the country.