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Search parties have safely led all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to security, along with numerous of native guides and livestock handlers, officials reported. This concludes one of the largest search-and-rescue missions ever conducted in the region.

Large-Scale Rescue Effort Concluded

Several hundred of trekkers were left stranded in thick snow over the past few days in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually powerful winter blast unleashed heavy snowfall across the region.

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

Initial updates had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were expected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, livestock herders, and other assistants were evacuated, according to government statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Describe Harsh Conditions

One from China trekker described how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to descend on Sunday as the weather became more severe.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we found out the snow was intense in the valley, too; community members, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Climbing Schedules Disrupted

The blizzard also thwarted the objectives of climbers escorted by a United States expedition 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 Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by international adventurers a century ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent visitor draw, the area has attracted an growing number of tourists. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, setting a unprecedented number.

Region Remains Closed

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

Wider Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected many of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual died, due to a mix of low body temperature and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a high season for the area, with usually fine and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”