British Mountaineering Guide Scales Mount Everest for the 20th Time, Breaking World Record

British mountaineering guide Kenton Cool summited Mount Everest for the 20th time on the 22nd, breaking his own record for the most summits of the world's highest peak by a non-Nepalese climber. AFP reported that since the start of the spring climbing season this month, more than 600 climbers have successfully reached the summit, taking advantage of a brief window of good weather and relatively calm winds. A government official at the Everest base camp told AFP that Cool reached the summit early this morning. The 52-year-old Cool first summited Everest in 2004 and has organized expeditions almost every year since, leading clients to the 8,849-meter peak. Cool suffered a climbing accident in 1996 that fractured both his heels, and doctors told him he would never be able to walk on his own again. In 2022, after his 16th summit, he told AFP that compared to the achievements of Nepalese climbers, his record 'is not amazing.' According to reports, at least seven Nepalese climbers currently hold records of over 20 summits. 56-year-old Sherpa guide Kami Rita Sherpa successfully summited Everest for the 32nd time on the 17th of this month, breaking the world record he set last year. Additionally, 52-year-old Sherpa woman Lhakpa Sherpa completed her 11th summit on the same day, breaking the record for the most summits by a woman.