‘It Never Gets Easier’: Kenton Cool Summits Everest for 20th Time

• Kenton Cool has spent more than two decades climbing in the Himalayas
• He described Everest as a mountain that still demands “respect”
• The record-setting climb took place amid harsh conditions

British mountaineer Kenton Cool has extended his own record for the most Mount Everest summits by a non-Sherpa foreign climber after reaching the peak for the 20th time on Friday, reinforcing his status as one of the most experienced high-altitude climbers in modern mountaineering.

The 52-year-old climber reached the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) summit before dawn and began descending toward lower camps, according to expedition organisers. His latest achievement came during a difficult Everest season that also saw two Indian climbers die during descent from the summit.

From Rock Climber to Everest Record Holder

Cool’s climb towards becoming one of the most successful high altitude mountaineers did not start in the Himalayan Range. He was born in England and first gained fame as a high-level alpine and rock climber before joining expeditions in mountaineering.

Cool’s involvement with Mount Everest began in 2004, when he made his first-ever ascent up the mountain. From that year on, he has continued returning to the mountain each mountaineering season except during the years when Everest had to be closed due to natural calamities or the coronavirus pandemic.

During the past twenty years, Cool has progressed from being an honored British guide to becoming one of the most influential climbers of modern Himalayan mountaineering. Besides Everest, he has been active in the Alps and other mountain ranges. He is considered a master in his field for his skills and endurance.

“It Never Gets Any Easier” Kenton Cool Reflects on his journey

In spite of successfully scaling Mount Everest 20 times, Cool believes the mountain continues to be just as fearsome. “Nothing ever gets easier or less scary. You’re on the tallest peak in the world, and you can’t help but feel awe-inspiring. That’s what it felt like for me, standing on top of the world for the 20th time,” Cool told reporters after climbing the mountain.

Cool, an experienced climber, further noted that experience is essential for survival in such dangerous terrain. “Experience becomes very, very important for moving around here safely.”

Cool’s ascent came as part of a journey organized by Furtenbach Adventures, which is run by the Austrian expedition organizer Lukas Furtenbach. According to Furtenbach, Cool had remarkable consistency and longevity on the mountain. “More Everest summits than any non-Sherpa ever… and still making it look like just another walk in the hills. Absolute legend.”

Everest’s Deadly Reality

It was at a time when a tragedy occurred at Mount Everest that Cool achieved this success. Two Indian climbers died while coming down from Mount Everest, according to organizers of the expedition team. One died in the area of Camp II, while another one died around the Hillary Step, which is found in the “death zone” of Everest.

A Record Still Far From the Top

While Cool now owns the foreign climber summit record on Everest, the highest Everest summit record holder of all time is the legendary Nepalese Sherpa Kami Rita, who has summited Everest 32 times.

Everest, in general, has been summited by more than 8,000 climbers since its first-ever ascent in 1953, when it was summited by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay for the first time. However, in this elite group, it is Cool’s longevity that makes him unique. As Cool approaches retirement age, he continues to make trips back to the highest mountain on earth without taking it for granted.