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Search parties have successfully guided all of the last hikers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including scores of native guides and animal tenders, local government stated. This wraps up one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever seen in the zone.

Massive Rescue Effort Concluded

Hundreds of trekkers were became trapped in heavy snow over the past few days in the remote Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce blizzard dumped substantial snowfall across the territory.

Snow kept coming down all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had led approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Initial updates had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 escorts, yak herders, and other support staff were brought out, according to authoritative statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Recount Harsh Situations

One Chinese hiker recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on Sunday as the situation deteriorated.

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

Expedition Schedules Thwarted

The severe weather also disrupted the goals of climbers escorted by a US-based expedition firm to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by western adventurers a century ago. In the past few years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism destination, the area has drawn an growing number of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists visited the Everest region last year, setting a unprecedented number.

Region Still Off-Limits

The Everest region is still for the time being closed to the general public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Impact

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of trekkers in other parts of the western regions of China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one person lost their life, due to a combination of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with usually clear and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person hiking party that returned safely to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”