Every Single Mountaineers Now Secure Following Multiple Days Stranded in Powerful Snowstorm

Search parties have safely led all of the last trekkers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to security, along with hundreds of native guides and yak herders, officials stated. This wraps up one of the largest rescue and recovery operations ever undertaken in the area.

Large-Scale Rescue Effort Completed

Several hundred of trekkers were left stranded in heavy snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unexpectedly powerful winter blast dumped heavy snowfall across the territory.

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

Initial updates had estimated that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

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

Survivors Describe Harsh Conditions

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

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was intense in the valley, too; local residents, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Plans Disrupted

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

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by international explorers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant travel destination, the area has drawn an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 visitors traveled to the Everest region last year, setting a new record.

Area Remains Closed

The Everest region remains temporarily off-limits to the general public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The intense snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of trekkers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual lost their life, due to a blend of low body temperature and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically clear and mild weather, but one member of an 18-person expedition team that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”