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Search parties have successfully guided all of the last trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to safety, along with hundreds of regional escorts and animal tenders, local government reported. This concludes one of the most extensive search-and-rescue efforts ever seen in the zone.

Massive Evacuation Operation Completed

Several hundred of hikers were left stranded in thick snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce winter blast dumped heavy snowfall across the region.

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

Initial updates had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 individuals were projected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, coupled with more than 300 guides, animal handlers, and other support staff were brought out, according to government statements released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Recount Extreme Conditions

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

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we realized the snow was deep in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Plans Thwarted

The snowstorm also thwarted the objectives of climbers led by a US-based climbing company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by foreign adventurers a hundred years ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major visitor destination, the area has attracted an growing number of visitors. More than 540,000 visitors visited the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Area Still Closed

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

Broader Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected hundreds of hikers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual died, due to a mix of low body temperature and acute mountain sickness.

Unusual Weather

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