🔗 Share this article Every Single Trekkers Now Secure Following Multiple Days Stranded in Powerful Blizzard Search parties have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to a secure location, including hundreds of native guides and animal tenders, local government stated. This concludes one of the biggest search-and-rescue operations ever seen in the region. Large-Scale Rescue Operation Completed Hundreds of hikers were found themselves stuck in heavy snow over the recent weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense blizzard deposited significant snowfall across the area. Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had led approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone. Earlier reports had indicated 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, animal handlers, and other support staff were rescued, according to government reports released on Tuesday evening. Survivors Recount Extreme Conditions One from China hiker described how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated. “On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we found out the snow was intense in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.” Expedition Plans Thwarted The snowstorm also disrupted the plans of climbers guided by a US-based climbing firm to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal. Tourism Increase in the Area Karma valley was first explored by international explorers a long time ago. In recent years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant travel draw, the area has brought in an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number. Region Still Closed The Everest region continues to be for the time being off-limits to the general public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu. Broader Impact The significant snowfall over the weekend also impacted many of trekkers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person died, due to a blend of low body temperature and acute mountain sickness. Atypical Weather October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically fine and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person hiking party that got back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”