Last October, Kami Rita led a group of Vietnamese tourists to successfully conquer Everest Base Camp. It is known that this was the first time he worked with Vietnamese customers. After the trip, Kami Rita also shared with Travellive magazine about his feelings as well as his future plans and his career.
Hello Kami Rita! How do you feel about leading a Vietnamese delegation for the first time?
I have a lot of experience working with international teams so I had no trouble communicating. Also, if there were some things I couldn’t say verbally, I would use body language to help them understand my point of view. Overall, the trip was a success and fortunately everyone was able to complete the trip in good health. The good thing was that even though we were stranded in Mathali for 4 nights due to bad weather, everyone was very optimistic and did not lose hope easily.
Kami Rita and the Vietnamese delegation.
What is your impression of Vietnamese guests?
I come from a Buddhist community, I always believe that if we treat everyone well, good things will come to us. I know that Buddhism is also one of the main religions of the Vietnamese people so maybe because of that we can connect with each other very easily. Moreover, as a leader, they respect my decision.
Having guided professional climbers many times, what is the difference (besides fitness) between professional climbers and amateur climbers?
Sometimes amateur climbers do not follow the time schedule because they do not know about the distance they have to cover and it affects the schedule of the whole group. We have to remind them many times like they need to eat and drink water on time, wear warm clothes because they cannot change until the group reaches the guesthouse or hotel, remind them to sleep on time because lack of sleep is also one of the reasons that affects physical strength, not to mention that waking up late will not have enough time to eat breakfast.
Kami Rita chats with members of the group at the stop.
What pressure do you feel as a guide for experienced climbers trying to conquer Everest?
I would be lying if I said I didn't feel pressured. As a group leader, I want everyone in the group to have a successful climb, but there are still some things that affect the schedule that we can't control.
When the weather is bad and the flight is at risk of being cancelled, as the group leader, I have to urgently prepare backup plans decisively. After landing, we also need porters to help customers with their luggage. There are also some customers with weak psychology, so I have to keep their spirits up, because if they are mentally weak, it can have a negative impact on the whole group.
How did he convince his family to continue conquering Everest?
My wife worries a lot every time I go on an expedition or climb a mountain, but my family members understand that this is my job and respect that.
Kami Rita remains loyal to the job of leading mountain climbing groups.
It is easy to see the mistakes of the climbers on the 1996 trip. Why did you not join the guiding trip that time?
I also participated in the 1996 expedition but not with the group that was in trouble. At that time, I worked as a Sherpa to support the emergency work for the climbing team.
Our group abandoned the expedition from Camp 4 for some reason. I remember the team leader and some of our group guides at that time assisted in the rescue while I and other Sherpa guides did the transportation.
Which conquest impressed you the most?
Personally I think all my expeditions are similar but if I had to say a few moments I would say the 2014 and 2015 treks. Sadly 16 Sherpa guides lost their lives in the Khumbu ice accident in 2014 and in 2015 there was a huge earthquake that took the lives of many.
He has witnessed many of his friends having unfortunate accidents but he still perseveres in his profession.
Please share some information about your next Everest conquest?
I can't say anything about future plans right now. But I might go on a spring expedition next year.
What is your next climbing goal?
I would love to do the Seven Summits if I can find the right sponsors and supporters. I have already climbed some of the seven summits.
What motivates you to continue working as a tour guide for groups conquering Mount Everest?
What motivates me is that I can help people realize their dreams of climbing Everest and other mountains. As guides, we understand how hard our clients work just to save money for the conquest. And when we see people's smiles, emotions, when their dreams come true, it is like my dream comes true too.
Kami Rita has an aspiration to complete the conquest of the Seven Summits.
What is your biggest fear when climbing mountains?
No expedition is guaranteed to be 100% safe because there are many external factors. These are all natural disasters like avalanches, bad weather, or earthquakes that we all fear when climbing all mountains.
Thanks for sharing!
Kami Rita was born in 1970 and is a Sherpa from the Himalayas, Nepal. In 1994, he first successfully conquered Mount Everest as a supporter of a climbing team. His achievements have continued over the years and by 2022, he had successfully conquered Mount Everest for the 26th time. Kami Rita said that he will continue climbing until his health no longer allows and the number of times he has conquered the highest mountain in the world will not stop at 26.
