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Search parties have safely led all of the remaining hikers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to security, along with hundreds of local guides and animal tenders, authorities reported. This wraps up one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts ever conducted in the region.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Concluded

Numerous of hikers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the past few days in the remote Karma valley, after an unusually fierce snowstorm deposited substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which is located at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to security.

Initial updates had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were anticipated to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, in addition to more than 300 local guides, livestock herders, and other crew members were evacuated, according to government reports released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Extreme Situations

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

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was heavy in the valley, too; local residents, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The blizzard also disrupted the goals of alpinists guided by a American climbing company to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by international travelers a hundred years ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism destination, the area has drawn an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Region Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region remains for the time being closed to the visitors, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of trekkers in other parts of the western regions of China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person died, due to a blend of hypothermia and altitude sickness.

Atypical Weather

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