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Search parties have successfully guided all of the remaining adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including scores of native guides and animal tenders, local government stated. This marks the end one of the most extensive search-and-rescue missions ever conducted in the region.

Massive Evacuation Operation Concluded

Hundreds of explorers were left stranded in deep snow over the past few days in the remote Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm dumped significant snowfall across the territory.

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

Initial updates had estimated that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were expected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, animal handlers, and other support staff were rescued, according to official reports released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Recount Harsh Situations

One from China trekker shared how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, obliging them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They decided to move to lower ground on Sunday as the weather became more severe.

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

Expedition Schedules Thwarted

The snowstorm also disrupted the plans of climbers escorted by a American expedition outfit to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between China and Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by international explorers a century ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism destination, the area has drawn an rising number of visitors. More than 540,000 visitors explored the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Region Still Off-Limits

The Everest region is still for the time being closed to the general public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also impacted many of hikers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one person lost their life, due to a combination of low body temperature and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with typically sunny and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person expedition team that made it back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “not normal.”