A team of 11 Nepali high-altitude climbing guides reached the summit of Mt Everest on Saturday evening, making it the first spring ascent of the world’s tallest peak this year.

Kami Rita Sherpa created history by climbing the 8,848.86 metre tall peak 26th time, said Mingma Sherpa, managing director of Seven Summit Treks. Kami Rita is a senior climbing guide at Seven Summit Treks.

Kami Rita reached the summit at 18:55 [local time] as the leader of the rope fixing team, along with 10 other climbing sherpas.

The other climbers are Sona Sherpa, Ngima Tashi Sherpa, Phurba Tsering Sherpa, Tenjing Gyaljen Sherpa, Lakpa Tenji Sherpa, Phurba Kusang Sherpa, Mingma Dandhu Sherpa, Pastenji Sherpa, Tareman Tamang and Phurba Chhotar.

Kami Rita had scaled Everest for the first time on May 13, 1994. He also holds the record of "most climbs over 8000m”, said Mingma Sherpa.

Between 1994 and 2022, Kami Rita has summited Everest 26 times, K2 and Lhotse one time each, Manaslu three times and Cho Oyu eight times.

This spring, the Department of Tourism has issued permits to 316 individuals.

Last spring, the department had issued a record 408 permits for Everest in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A climbing permit for Everest costs $11,000 for foreigners. But climbers end up spending between $40,000 and $90,000 to climb the mountain.