Every Single Mountaineers Now Out of Danger After Multiple Days Trapped in Powerful Snowstorm

Search parties have successfully guided all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to security, including numerous of local guides and animal tenders, officials reported. This wraps up one of the biggest search-and-rescue efforts ever seen in the region.

Large-Scale Evacuation Effort Completed

Hundreds of explorers were became trapped in thick snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce winter blast unleashed substantial snowfall across the territory.

Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had escorted approximately 350 hikers to security.

Initial updates had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 individuals were projected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 guides, animal handlers, and other crew members were rescued, according to official reports released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Describe Harsh Conditions

One Chinese hiker recalled how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to go down on Sunday as the weather 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, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Plans Disrupted

The severe weather also disrupted the plans of alpinists escorted by a United States expedition company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first visited by western explorers a hundred years ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism draw, the area has drawn an rising number of tourists. More than 540,000 visitors visited the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Region Remains Closed

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

Broader Effect

The intense snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of trekkers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one person lost their life, due to a mix of low body temperature and altitude sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically fine and mild weather, but one participant of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “atypical.”