The 2018 Himalayan climbing season is still ramping up, but we're starting to learn about some important stories that we'll be watching closely in the weeks to come. Yesterday I shared a report that a Chinese double-amputee will attempt to climb from the South Side this spring, and today we have news that two Sherpas are aiming for impressive summit records for both male and female climbers on Everest.The Himalayan Times is reporting that both Kami Rita Sherpa and Lhakpa Sherpa will both attempt to break their own records for most ever summits on the world's highest peak. Both are departing for Base Camp soon with the hopes of reaching the top at some point this spring. If they are successful, it will be the 22nd time on top of the mountain for Kami Rita and the 9th time for Lhakpa.
For Kami Rita, this would break a tie that he currently holds with Apa Sherpa and Phurba Tashi Sherpa, but even if successful he says he won't be done yet. He tells The Times that he wants to climb Everest 25 times before his career is done. He is 48 years old and made his first summit at the age of 24. He also has successful expeditions to K2, Cho You, Lhotse, and Annapurna on his resume too.
For her part, Lhakpa stands alone amongst women climbers with 8 summits to her name already. But this year she hopes to extend that streak to 9. She first climbed Everest back in 2000. The mother-of-three is expected to arrive in Kathmandu (she lives in the U.S.) on April 6 and will begin making her way to EBC shortly there after. She hopes to climb the mountain at least 10 times across her career as well.
Most climbers are lucky to ever get one shot at climbing Everest, and those that do usually don't want to go through it again. Obviously it is a job for these two Sherpas, but they also have to want to continue climbing to go back so many times. They clearly have a passion for Everest, and we'll see them back on the mountain again this spring. Hopefully they'll both reach the summit once again.
