Every Single Mountaineers Currently Out of Danger Following Days Caught in Powerful Snowstorm

Emergency crews have escorted all of the last hikers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to a secure location, including hundreds of local guides and yak herders, officials stated. This wraps up one of the largest search-and-rescue missions ever seen in the area.

Massive Evacuation Effort Concluded

Hundreds of trekkers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the recent weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful winter blast unleashed significant snowfall across the area.

Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had guided approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Initial updates had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were projected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, yak herders, and other crew members were evacuated, according to official statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Severe Conditions

One Chinese hiker recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the conditions became more severe.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we realized the snow was heavy in the valley, too; community members, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Expedition Plans Disrupted

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

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first visited by foreign explorers a hundred years ago. In recent years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent visitor attraction, the area has brought in an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Region Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region continues to be temporarily off-limits to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of hikers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one traveler died, due to a mix of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with typically clear and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person expedition team that returned safely to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “unusual.”