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Rescue teams have successfully guided all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to a secure location, along with numerous of native guides and livestock handlers, local government stated. This concludes one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever seen in the region.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Completed

Hundreds of hikers were became trapped in thick snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm unleashed significant snowfall across the territory.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had escorted approximately 350 hikers to safety.

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

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 escorts, livestock herders, and other crew members were rescued, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday evening.

Those Rescued Recount Severe Conditions

One Chinese trekker described how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the situation worsened.

“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; villagers, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Schedules Disrupted

The severe weather also disrupted the plans of alpinists escorted by a American climbing firm to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between China and Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by western adventurers a century ago. In modern times, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent travel attraction, the area has attracted an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, setting a new record.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region continues to be currently closed to the general public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also affected many of hikers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual died, due to a mix of exposure and altitude sickness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with normally clear and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person expedition team that got back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “atypical.”