The 52-year-old British climber, Kenton Cool, reached the 8,849 m summit of Mount Everest before dawn on 22/5, according to Nepal's mountaineering authorities. A representative from the expedition organizer stated that Cool is currently descending to lower camps and is expected to arrive at Base Camp later this week.
Cool first summited Everest in 2004 and has maintained an annual ascent record, except for years when the mountain was closed due to unforeseen circumstances.
Lukas Furtenbach, who operates Furtenbach Adventures, praised Cool as a "living legend". "He is quietly rewriting the record books," Furtenbach remarked. "No non-Sherpa foreigner has summited Everest as many times as Cool; he makes it look as effortless as a stroll in the hills."
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British climber Kenton Cool after completing his 17th Everest ascent in 2023. Photo: Reuters/Navesh Chitrakar. |
Despite his impressive achievements, Cool emphasizes that confronting Everest's harsh environment is never easy or routine. For him, Everest remains the world's highest mountain, possessing astonishing majesty. "I had to rely on every bit of experience I have to move safely," Cool stated. "Standing here for the 20th time is still a special feeling."
The overall record for Everest summits currently belongs to Kami Rita, a Sherpa guide, with 32 successful ascents. Since the historic 1953 milestone achieved by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, over 8,000 people have reached Everest's peak.
The current Everest climbing season, despite celebrating Cool's new record, has proven to be dangerous. Local officials reported two Indian climbers died on the descent after summiting on 21/5, the same day Kenton Cool achieved his record. Pioneer Adventure, the tour organizer, confirmed one climber perished at Camp II, while the other collapsed at Hillary Step, an area within the perilous "death zone" characterized by low oxygen levels. These incidents have raised the total number of fatalities on Everest this season to 5. Rescue teams are working to recover the victims' bodies.
Mai Phuong (Reuters)
