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Emergency crews have escorted all of the last hikers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including hundreds of regional escorts and yak herders, officials stated. This wraps up one of the most extensive search-and-rescue missions ever undertaken in the area.

Massive Rescue Effort Concluded

Hundreds of explorers were found themselves stuck in deep snow over the recent weekend in the remote Karma valley, after an unexpectedly powerful snowstorm unleashed significant snowfall across the region.

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

Earlier reports had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were anticipated to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, livestock herders, and other assistants were evacuated, according to official announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Describe Harsh Conditions

One Chinese hiker recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to move to lower ground on Sunday as the conditions became more severe.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we found out the snow was intense in the valley, too; community members, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Schedules Disrupted

The blizzard also thwarted the plans of alpinists escorted by a US-based climbing outfit to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by foreign explorers a century ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism draw, the area has drawn an growing number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers explored the Everest region last year, establishing a unprecedented number.

Region Still Off-Limits

The Everest region is still currently closed to the general public, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of trekkers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual died, due to a mix of low body temperature and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with typically sunny and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person hiking party that made it back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”