A hundred years ago, climbing Everest was a big deal. Nowadays, every man and his dog seems to have done it. But only one man has done it 21 times.

Apa Sherpa has broken his own record by scaling the world's highest mountain, summiting the epic peak yesterday (Wednesday May 11th).

Known as the 'Super Sherpa', Mr Sherpa was joined atop Everest by fellow expedition members. The group was on an expedition to clear rubbish from the mountain left by previous climbers, outdoors website Grough.co.uk said.

Mr Sherpa grew up near Everest and spent his youth as a porter for other mountaineers. He first climbed the mountain in 1989.

"If my ascent promotes the cause and helps to protect the mountain, I am always ready to climb," the BBC reported the climber telling news agency AFP prior to his trip.

The mountain is named after George Everest, a British surveyor-general of India in the 19th century.