At the age of 48, Kenton Cool recently reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 16th time. That is, based on a recent article in The Guardian, a record-setting achievement. That said, there’s a pretty big caveat there — Cool’s undoubtedly impressive achievement makes him a record holder, but in the category of non-Nepali mountaineers.
Cool himself pointed this out on his Instagram post commemorating the event, writing, “This marks KC’s 16th summit, a non Sherpa record.” As The Guardian‘s report on Cool’s achievement points out, the overall record for ascents to the summit is held by Nepal’s Kami Rita, who recently reached the summit for the 26th time, breaking his own record.
Cool’s own story was already impressive before making this ascent. In 1996, he broke both of his heel bones, leaving some doubting whether or not he would walk after that point. The Guardian‘s article notes that he still deals with chronic pain, but has been able to reach a level of mountaineering prowess that few others can claim.
Among Cool’s other achievements including reaching the summit of Everest twice in the same week and pulling off the “Triple Crown” of Everest — which is to say, he climbed the peaks of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse in rapid succession. This latest ascent adds another milestone to an impressive career.
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