Summitting Everest by the Numbers

This week, Kami Rita Sherpa accomplished his 23rd ascent to the summit of Mount Everest, the most of any person. Lhakpa Sherpa successfully completed her 9th ascent, the most of any woman last spring. Kami’s latest ascent put him two climbs above his closest competitors, all of whom are neck and neck for the most climbs. Lhakpa is a comfortable 3 climbs above her closest female competitor with plans to accomplish her tenth ascent next year.

The grueling hike is over 8500 meters high, making it the size of roughly 20 Empire State Buildings stacked on top of each other. It takes about $25,000 per person to adequately complete the dangerous, low-oxygen trek, with many hikers perishing along the way.