KATHMANDU, Nepal -- Sherpa guide Kami Rita has scaled Mount Everest for a 23rd time, breaking his own record for the most successful ascents of the world's highest peak.
Nepalese government official Gyanendra Shrestha said Rita reached the summit with other climbers Wednesday morning, and all of them were reported to be safe.
Rita's two closest peers have climbed the 29,035-foot peak 21 times each, but both of them have retired from mountain climbing.
There are 41 different teams with a total of 378 climbers who have been permitted to scale Everest during this year's spring climbing season. There are an equal number of Nepalese guides helping them to get to the summit.