Two veteran Sherpas, Pasang Dawa Sherpa and Kami Rita Sherpa, are competing to set a record for the most ascents of Mount Everest. The friendly but grueling competition mixes monetary rewards with abundant dangers for the two mountain guides. Pasang Dawa Sherpa has summited the mountain for a record-tying 26th time, while Kami Rita Sherpa has reached the summit 28 times. The two men have been trying to outdo each other for decades, and their competition reflects the climbing industry’s limited resources. An expedition company with a record-holding Sherpa can draw more clients, and expedition agencies offer Sherpas money for each record-breaking summit. Despite the risks, the Sherpas are the backbone of Nepal’s climbing industry, and their dreams of a better life depend on the money they earn when they help a foreigner summit Everest.
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