Kenton Cool, British mountaineer, makes 19th ascent of Mount Everest, setting new non-Sherpa record

British mountaineerKenton Cool became the record holder of the number of ascents by someone who is not a Sherpa, having climbed Mount Everestfor the 19th time. The remarkable achievement was achieved on Sunday at 11:00 local time (04:15 GMT), as the 51-year-old reached the summit of the 8,849-meter (29,000-feet) tall mountain.Cool was accompanied by Nepali Sherpa Dorji Gyaljen, who also reached the summit, setting his own record of a 23rd successful climb up Everest.Kenton Cool's Mount Everest experience began in 2004, when he first climbed the world's tallest mountain. Cool has subsequently returned to the mountain almost annually since, demonstrating his drive and dedication as a climber. His 19 ascents put him at or near the top of the world's greatest climbers, although he is still surprised at the number of the Sherpas, who have overwhelmingly surpassed him.Although Cool's 19th climb was a milestone in history, his Sherpa counterpart, Dorji Gyaljen, also reached his individual milestone with his 23rd successful Mount Everest climb. Gyaljen's record testifies to the experience and scope of his record on the mountain, serving as testament to the influential role of Sherpas in the success of high-altitude climbs.While Kenton Cool holds a record for most Everest climbs by a non-Sherpa currently, Nepali Sherpa Kami Rita holds the most successful Mount Everest climbs. Kami Rita has climbed a total of 30 times and continues to seek out more since he is currently on the mountain trying to break his own record once again. Sherpas like Kami Rita are irreplaceable to the climbing community, especially with their unparalleled experience and knowledge of Everest's treacherous terrain.Cool's achievement occurred in a challenging week for the Everest climbing community.Two climbers died on the mountain during the week: India's Subrata Ghosh and the Philippines' Philipp "PJ" Santiago II. Their fatalities serve as a reminder of the dangers of climbing Everest, reminding climbers of the dangers of high-altitude ascents in spite of better planning and technology.Toying with world accolades for his 19th successful climb of Everest, Kenton Cool has kept his feat low-key. Following his 16th ascent in 2022, he told AFP in an interview that he was "surprised by the interest" since so many Sherpas had far more ascents in their past. Cool's modesty and appreciation for Sherpas' work tell a lot about his admiration of the broader mountaineering community and group effort into climbing Everest. Four days before this year's record-breaking ascent, Cool uploaded an upbeat message to his fans on Instagram, anticipating the ascent. From his message, he had "finally had a good forecast," and thus he proceeded with his attempt. Cool also anticipated having a safe and enjoyable experience on the mountain, citing coordination between climbers to avoid crowding at the summit.Kenton Cool's incredible feat has been valued by the other mountaineers, who have expressed gratitude to him for being professional, engaging, as well as seasoned. On an Everest climb at the present time is American mountaineer Adrian Ballinger, who commented favorably about Cool as "a great person to share stories from two decades on the mountain." Ballinger also acknowledged Cool's precious work in the Everest community for his leadership and resilience.Similarly, Jordanian mountaineer Mostafa Salameh, one of just 20 individuals who have climbed the seven highest peaks on the continents and travelled to both the North and South Poles, welcomed Cool with congratulations, telling him, "Amazing, Kenton." Such testimony from a seasoned fellow climber speaks to the recognition Cool has drawn from climbers across the globe.Also Read |Paleontologists uncover a 500-million-year-old 3-eyed predator that once ruled the ancient seas