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Emergency crews have successfully guided all of the last hikers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including scores of local guides and yak herders, authorities announced. This wraps up one of the largest rescue and recovery operations ever undertaken in the region.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Completed

Hundreds of explorers were left stranded in heavy snow over the past few days in the remote Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm unleashed substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which is located at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had guided approximately 350 hikers to security.

Initial updates had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were expected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, along with more than 300 escorts, livestock herders, and other assistants were brought out, according to official statements released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Recount Extreme Conditions

One Chinese trekker shared how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, compelling them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on Sunday as the conditions became more severe.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was deep in the valley, too; local residents, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Plans Disrupted

The blizzard also hindered the plans of alpinists escorted by a United States expedition outfit to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by foreign explorers a hundred years ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism attraction, the area has attracted an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 visitors traveled to the Everest region last year, marking a new record.

Area Still Off-Limits

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

Wider Impact

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also impacted numerous of hikers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual lost their life, due to a blend of low body temperature and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally clear and mild weather, but one member of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”