On Sunday, British climber Kenton Cool achieved his twentieth successful ascent of Mount Everest, breaking the previous record for the most summits of the highest peak in the world by a non-Nepali.
Since the spring climbing season started this month, more than 50 climbers have climbed to the summit, taking advantage of a brief period of favourable weather and generally calmer winds. Cool, a 51-year-old mountain guide, has been leading customers up the world’s highest peak on expeditions nearly every year since his first ascent of Everest in 2004.
According to a post on his Instagram account, “Kenton summited Everest for the 19th at 11am Nepalese time (0515 GMT) on Sunday. He equalled American Dave Hahn for the most summits by a non-Nepali climber in 2021 with his 15th ascent, and he won a solo title the following year.
After breaking both of his heel bones in a rock climbing accident in 1996, Cool was reportedly told he would never be allowed to walk unassisted again. When asked about his Everest record in 2022, following his 16th ascent, he told AFP that it was “not that amazing” compared to the accomplishments of Nepali climbers.
With his 31st ascent, 55-year-old Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa is also trying to surpass his world record for the most Everest summits. After at least two climbers a Filipino and an Indian, died on Mount Everest this week, Cool’s most recent ascent follows suit.
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