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Rescue teams have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including numerous of native guides and animal tenders, local government announced. This concludes one of the most extensive search-and-rescue missions ever undertaken in the area.

Massive Evacuation Operation Concluded

Numerous of hikers were left stranded in deep snow over the recent weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense winter blast dumped significant snowfall across the area.

Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had escorted approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Previous accounts had estimated that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, along with more than 300 escorts, yak herders, and other assistants were rescued, according to government announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Recount Severe Conditions

One Chinese trekker recalled how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to go down on Sunday as the weather became more severe.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we found out the snow was deep in the valley, too; community members, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Climbing Schedules Thwarted

The blizzard also thwarted the goals of climbers led by a American expedition company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by western travelers a hundred years ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major visitor destination, the area has brought in an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers visited the Everest region last year, marking a new record.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region remains currently inaccessible to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also impacted hundreds of hikers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual died, due to a mix of exposure and acute mountain sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with usually fine and pleasant weather, but one trekker of an 18-person expedition team that returned safely to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “unusual.”