Kathmandu, May 15 -- Soft-spoken and always smiling, Kami Rita Sherpa is an affable man. At 49, he is lean and wiry, with a forehead burnt brown from the sun. But his amiable manner belies his accomplishments.

On Wednesday morning, Kami Rita Sherpa scaled Mount Everest for the 23rd time, breaking his own record. On the mountain, Kami Rita is seemingly unstoppable. But despite his unparalleled feats of skill and endurance on the world's highest peak, he remains humble.

"Climbing is my duty," Kami Rita had told the Post in April, before he returned to Everest. "It's not about the money, I enjoy working on the mountains."

Kami Rita summited Everest at 7:50 am on Wednesday, confirmed Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Seven Summit Treks, Kami Rita...