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Search parties have successfully guided all of the last hikers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including scores of local guides and livestock handlers, officials reported. This concludes one of the largest rescue and recovery operations ever conducted in the region.

Massive Rescue Effort Concluded

Several hundred of hikers were became trapped in thick snow over the past few days in the remote Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce winter blast deposited substantial snowfall across the area.

Snow kept coming down all day Saturday in the valley, which sits 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 estimated that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other crew members were evacuated, according to authoritative statements released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Harsh Situations

One Chinese trekker shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, compelling them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They decided to go down on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

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

Climbing Schedules Thwarted

The blizzard also thwarted the goals of climbers guided by a American climbing outfit 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 Region

Karma valley was first discovered by foreign adventurers a century ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major visitor attraction, the area has brought in an growing number of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Area Still Off-Limits

The Everest region is still for the time being closed to the public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of hikers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual succumbed, due to a combination of exposure and altitude sickness.

Atypical Weather

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