KATHMANDU , Nepal -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Like many Nepalese guides , Apa Sherpa started trekking to the top of Mount Everest in the shadow of more famous climbers -- including the son of the late Sir Edmund Hillary , the first person to climb to the top of the world 's tallest peak . Apa Sherpa has climbed Mount Everest more times than any other person . But the 49-year-old Nepali -- who now lives in the United States -- on Thursday morning became the only person in the world to summit Everest 19 times . Apa says his goals in climbing the 29,029-foot -LRB- 8,848-meter -RRB- mountain have nothing to do with setting the world record for Everest summits , a title he has held since 1998 . `` Up to the 17th time in 2007 I climbed as a professional , as part of my occupation , '' Apa said , according to the Web site tracking the progress of his most recent expedition . `` But last year I climbed to raise funds for a school in Thame , my village on the foot of Everest . '' In addition to raising money for Nepali schoolkids , Apa also plans to remove more than two tons of garbage from Everest . Over the past 55 years , some 2,000 mountaineers have climbed the peak , leaving behind a trail of trash that includes oxygen bottles , food cans , gas cylinders , paper , plastic and even tents . Everest -- known by Nepalis as Sagarmatha -- is considered sacred by the Nepalese people , and is worshipped as a goddess of wealth and power by the Sherpas , the inhabitants of the Everest region . Apa comes from the famed Sherpa community of mountain guides , who work as porters and climbing guides for mountaineers from all over the world . While Everest is not considered the most technically challenging climb by experienced mountaineers , the world 's highest peak attracts an array of climbers who spend tens of thousands of dollars for the chance to make it to the top . However , the mountain is deadly for many climbers : More than 200 people have died trying to scale Everest . Apa began working as an expedition porter for Everest climbers to earn money after his father died when he was 12 years old , according to his biography on his team 's Web site , SuperSherpas.com . Many of the mountaineers noticed the young Sherpa who , despite his small size , was able to carry large loads `` with strength , quickness and a wide smile , '' according to his biography . But it was n't until he was about 30 years old that Apa began climbing Everest as a guide . He made it to the top in 1990 with a team that included Peter Hillary , whose father first summited the peak along Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953 . That team also included Rob Hall , a New Zealander who lost his life on the mountain in 1996 , the deadliest season for climbers in Everest 's history . Eight climbers , including Hall , died trying to summit the peak on May 11 , 1996 , known as the `` Everest disaster . '' The incident highlighted the pressure that mountaineering companies face when their clients -- who have paid as much as $ 60,000 -- want to make it to the top despite foreboding weather and their lack of experience . Hall had asked Apa several times during the 1996 season to work for him , but Apa refused in order to be with his family , according to Everestnews.com . Apa reached Everest 's peak for the 19th time at 8 a.m. local time on Thursday , announcing over a crackling radio , `` I am at the top and looking at all the prayer flags , '' according to the Web site tracking his progress . `` I have just satisfied the deities and placed the Bhumpa on the summit . '' He was referring to an 8-inch-tall copper vase which is considered sacred and contains 400 elements , including precious metals , Buddhist relics , shreds of robes worn by venerated monks , holy water , and soil . Last month , Apa said that putting the vase on the mountain would be a prayer for world peace and prosperity . After spending 30 minutes at the top , he headed down . `` It is so cold here ... I am heading down . '' Crowds of climbers forced Apa to delay his ascent to the summit by an hour . May is considered the ideal time to try to reach the top of Everest , and Nepali tourism authorities said 98 people had climbed the mountain on Tuesday and Wednesday from the south side . Apa currently lives near Salt Lake City , Utah , where he works as a climbing instructor and gives lectures . He has three children -- two sons , ages 23 and 18 , and a 14-year-old daughter . He has said he does not want his children to follow in his footsteps as a climber . His SuperSherpas team has raised $ 30,000 to educate the children of Nepal , and Apa hopes that his climbing successes will continue to raise more money for the impoverished Himalayan country . `` I never had a plan to make a record , '' Apa told The Salt Lake Tribune last month before leaving for Nepal . `` I never had that as a dream . It just keeps happening . '' CNN 's Manesh Shrestha contributed to this report .