British mountaineer Kenton Cool has scaled Mount Everest for the 19th time, breaking his own record for the most climbs up the world’s tallest mountain for a non-sherpa.
The 51-year-old, who was accompanied by Nepali sherpa Dorji Gyaljen, reached the 8,849m (29,000ft) high summit at 11:00 local time (04:15 GMT) on Sunday, reports BBC.
Mr Cool first climbed Everest in 2004 and has summited it almost yearly since. Mr Gyaljen logged his 23rd climb up Everest. Another Nepali sherpa, Kami Rita, holds the record for making the most number of Everest summits at 30, and is also currently on the mountain attempting to set a new record.
Mr Cool’s record-setting feat comes after at least two climbers – Subrata Ghosh from India and Philipp “PJ” Santiago II from the Philippines – died on Mount Everest this week.
Fellow climbers hailed the achievement.
“Amazing, Kenton,” wrote Jordanian mountaineer Mostafa Salameh, who is one of only 20 people to climb the highest mountains on all seven continents and conquer the North and South Poles.
Mr Cool is also a mountain guide who has lead British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, among others, on several notable climbs including Everest.
