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Emergency crews have safely led all of the remaining adventurers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to safety, including scores of local guides and yak herders, authorities reported. This wraps up one of the biggest rescue and recovery efforts ever seen in the zone.

Large-Scale Rescue 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 powerful winter blast dumped significant snowfall across the territory.

Snow kept coming down all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had led approximately 350 hikers to security.

Earlier reports had estimated that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were anticipated to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, coupled with more than 300 guides, yak herders, and other support staff were evacuated, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Describe Extreme Conditions

One Chinese trekker described how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They chose to go down on Sunday as the conditions became more severe.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we found out the snow was intense in the valley, too; villagers, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The snowstorm also disrupted the objectives of alpinists led by a United States mountaineering company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by western explorers a century ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a major travel destination, the area has attracted an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists visited the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Region Still Closed

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

Broader Impact

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of trekkers in other parts of the western regions of China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual died, due to a combination of low body temperature and altitude sickness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically clear and pleasant weather, but one trekker of an 18-person expedition team that returned safely to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “not normal.”