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Rescue teams have escorted all of the remaining hikers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to safety, along with numerous of local guides and livestock handlers, local government announced. This marks the end one of the biggest rescue and recovery missions ever undertaken in the area.

Large-Scale Rescue Effort Concluded

Hundreds of explorers were found themselves stuck in deep snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce blizzard unleashed substantial snowfall across the area.

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

Initial updates had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were anticipated to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 guides, animal handlers, and other assistants were evacuated, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Recount Extreme Conditions

One Chinese hiker recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on Sunday as the situation deteriorated.

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

Expedition Plans Disrupted

The snowstorm also thwarted the goals of mountaineers escorted by a United States mountaineering company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by western explorers a century ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a major visitor draw, the area has drawn an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 visitors explored the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region is still temporarily inaccessible 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 hundreds of hikers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual lost their life, due to a mix of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with usually fine and pleasant weather, but one participant of an 18-person hiking party that made it back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “not normal.”