British climber sets record for most Mount Everest summits by a non-Nepali

Kenton Cool, a British mountain climber, has set a record for the most Mount Everest summits by a non-Nepali, having reached the top of the world's highest mountain for the 17th time.

The climber reached the summit, alongside Dorjee Gyelzen Sherpa, a local guide who has summitted both Everest and K 2 twice, and Richard Walker, executive chairman of the Iceland grocery store chain in the UK.

The trio reached the top of Everest at 1: 30am British Summer Time, which is 6: 15am Nepal time.

The conditions on the summit push were incredibly cold, causing multiple tech failures with the tracker comms going down. They are now resting at Camp 4 before heading back down the mountain. The record-breaking week has seen record-breaking climbs of Everest, which is most commonly climbed in May.

Pasang Dawa Sherpa, 46, reached the mountain sapex for the 26th time, tying his countryman Kami Rita Sherpa for the number of all-time ascents.

The tie lasted for two days, though, as Kami Rita summitted for the 27th time on Wednesday.

Despite fears about the potential overcrowding on Everest, mountaineering tourism is a significant revenue source for the nation, despite risks related to safety.

In 2019, a viral picture taken in 2019 shows a traffic jam line of climbers waiting their turn to make the final ascent to the peak.

The government in Nepal issued a record 463 climbing permits to international tourists this year, its highest number ever. The U.S. and China were the largest groups represented.

In 2018, the Nepali government banned foreigners from climbing Everest alone. Then earlier this year, they banned all solo trekking across the country.

When you are traveling alone, in case of emergencies there is no one to help you, Mani R. Lamichhane, the director of the Nepal Tourism Board, told CNN. It is fine if they are traveling in the cities, but in the remote mountains, the infrastructure is not sufficient. Adrian Ballinger, a longtime Mount Everest guide, tells CNN that he is no longer taking clients to the mountain because of concerns about overcrowding.

Most often than not, when accidents do happen on the mountain, the tragedy tends to strike the Nepalese workers who are there supporting foreign climbers, Ballinger said.

The dramatic increase in numbers, especially inexperienced climbers, led by inexperienced guides and guide companies, has created a tinderbox of a situation where big accidents are inevitable when they could be avoidable. All we can do is fight and advocate for the increased regulation of the mountaineering industry in Nepal.