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Rescue teams have safely led all of the remaining adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to safety, along with hundreds of regional escorts and yak herders, local government reported. This concludes one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts ever seen in the region.

Massive Evacuation Operation Completed

Several hundred of trekkers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually intense winter blast unleashed substantial snowfall across the area.

Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which is located at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Earlier reports had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were anticipated to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other support staff were brought out, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Recount Extreme Conditions

One from China trekker shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, obliging them to clear it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated.

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

Climbing Schedules Thwarted

The snowstorm also disrupted the objectives of mountaineers guided by a American mountaineering firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by western explorers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant visitor destination, the area has drawn an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 visitors traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Region Still Off-Limits

The Everest region remains currently inaccessible to the general public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of travelers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one traveler succumbed, due to a combination of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a high season for the area, with usually fine and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “unusual.”