Trending Now - Nepali Climbers Set New Everest Records, Surpassing Themselves

WHO:

DW.com - Kami Rita Sherpa, 56, known as the "Everest Man"

DW.com - Lhakpa Sherpa, 52, known as the "Mountain Queen"

DW.com - Mingma Sherpa, chairman of expedition operator Seven Summit Treks

DW.com - Khimlal Gautam, coordinator at the Department of Tourism's Everest base camp

WHAT:

DW.com - Nepal has issued a record 492 permits for people wanting to climb Everest this season, with some thousand climbers expected to ascend the mountain in the next few days.

DW.com - Officials say between five and 10 climbers die on Mount Everest in an average climbing year.

DW.com - Kami Rita Sherpa scaled Everest for a record 32nd time.

DW.com - Lhakpa Sherpa made her 11th summit of Everest.

DW.com - Nepal issued a record 492 climbing permits for the Everest spring season.

DW.com - More than 320 people have died attempting to climb Everest since the first confirmed ascent in 1953.

WHERE:

DW.com - Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas, with ascents from both Nepal and Chinese-administered Tibet.

DW.com - Base camp at Everest, where many climbers and guides are located.

WHEN:

DW.com - Kami Rita reached the summit at around 10:12 a.m. (0427 GMT).

DW.com - Lhakpa Sherpa reached the summit at 9:30 a.m.

WHY:

DW.com - Increased climbing permits are attributed to restrictions on the Tibet side of the mountain imposed by Chinese authorities.

DW.com - Delays in the opening of routes and unstable ice conditions have shortened the climbing window.

HOW:

DW.com - Both climbers began their careers as porters before becoming professional guides.

DW.com - Most mountaineers attempt to climb Everest accompanied by at least one Nepali guide.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 06:18 UTC)

Nepal has issued a record 492 permits for climbers aiming to reach the summit of Everest this season, with around one thousand climbers expected to make the ascent in the coming days. Officials report that, on average, between five and ten climbers lose their lives on the mountain each year. As the climbing season progresses, safety remains a top concern for both climbers and officials alike.

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(UPDATED May 17, 2026 23:14 UTC)

Kami Rita Sherpa has made history by scaling Mount Everest for an incredible 32nd time, while Lhakpa Sherpa celebrated her 11th summit of the world’s highest peak. This spring season, Nepal issued a record 492 climbing permits, a surge attributed to restrictions on the Tibetan side of the mountain and delays in route openings. Both climbers, who started their careers as porters before becoming professional guides, reached their respective summits with the support of their teams at Everest's base camp.