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Rescue teams have successfully guided all of the last adventurers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to a secure location, including scores of native guides and yak herders, officials stated. This marks the end one of the largest rescue and recovery efforts ever undertaken in the area.

Massive Rescue Effort Concluded

Several hundred of hikers were left stranded in thick snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unusually powerful blizzard deposited significant snowfall across the territory.

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

Earlier reports had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were expected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, yak herders, and other assistants were evacuated, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Describe Severe Conditions

One Chinese hiker shared how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, compelling them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

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

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The severe weather also hindered the plans of alpinists escorted by a United States climbing company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by foreign adventurers a century ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a major visitor draw, the area has attracted an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers visited the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Region Still Off-Limits

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

Broader Impact

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also impacted numerous of hikers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual lost their life, due to a mix of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with typically clear and mild weather, but one participant of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “atypical.”