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Rescue teams have escorted all of the remaining trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to a secure location, along with hundreds of native guides and livestock handlers, local government stated. This wraps up one of the most extensive rescue and recovery efforts ever undertaken in the region.

Large-Scale Evacuation Operation Completed

Several hundred of explorers were left stranded in heavy snow over the weekend in the remote Karma valley, after an unusually powerful blizzard unleashed heavy snowfall across the area.

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

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

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other assistants were rescued, according to official statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Severe Conditions

One Chinese traveler recalled how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the situation deteriorated.

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

Expedition Schedules Thwarted

The blizzard also thwarted the plans of mountaineers guided by a American climbing firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by foreign travelers a hundred years ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent travel attraction, the area has attracted an rising number of tourists. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Region Still Closed

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

Wider Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected many of trekkers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person died, due to a blend of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a peak season for the area, with typically sunny and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “not normal.”