The most successful female climber of Mount Everest broke another record in reaching the top of the mountain a ninth time. The climber is Lhakpa Sherpa. She is a 44-year-old single mother who lives in the United States with her three children. She was born in Nepal and has been climbing for many years. Sherpa was guiding about 50 people up the mountain when she completed her latest climb on May 16. This broke her own record for the most climbs of Mount Everest by a woman. Her first successful attempt came in 2000, and she completed her eighth climb last spring. She told the Associated Press the ninth climb was her hardest one yet. She said severe wind and snow forced the group to wait a few days before making their final climb to the top.