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Search parties have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to safety, including numerous of local guides and animal tenders, officials announced. This concludes one of the most extensive search-and-rescue efforts ever undertaken in the zone.

Massive Rescue Effort Concluded

Hundreds of explorers were left stranded in heavy snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense winter blast unleashed heavy snowfall across the territory.

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

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

In total, 580 trekkers, along with more than 300 escorts, yak herders, and other crew members were brought out, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Harsh Situations

One from China trekker shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the weather worsened.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we realized the snow was heavy in the valley, too; community members, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Expedition Plans Thwarted

The severe weather also disrupted the objectives of mountaineers escorted by a US-based expedition firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by western explorers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism destination, the area has attracted an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists visited the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Region Still Closed

The Everest region is still currently closed to the visitors, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of trekkers in other parts of the western regions of China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one person succumbed, due to a mix of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Weather

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