🔗 Share this article Every Single Mountaineers Currently Safe After Days Trapped in Intense Snowstorm Rescue teams have safely led all of the last trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to security, along with scores of local guides and animal tenders, local government stated. This concludes one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts ever seen in the zone. Massive Evacuation Operation Concluded Several hundred of trekkers were left stranded in heavy snow over the recent weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unusually intense blizzard unleashed significant snowfall across the territory. 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 a safe zone. Earlier reports had estimated that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were projected to reach their destination by Tuesday. In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 guides, yak herders, and other support staff were brought out, according to authoritative statements released on Tuesday night. Those Rescued Describe Severe Situations One from China trekker shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, compelling them to clear it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the situation deteriorated. “On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we found out the snow was heavy in the valley, too; villagers, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.” Expedition Schedules Disrupted The blizzard also thwarted the plans of alpinists escorted by a American mountaineering outfit to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal. Visitor Growth in the Area 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 attraction, the area has brought in an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 visitors visited the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number. Area Remains Closed The Everest region remains temporarily closed to the general public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu. Broader Impact The heavy snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of hikers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one person succumbed, due to a blend of hypothermia and high-altitude illness. Atypical Weather October is typically a peak season for the area, with typically fine and mild weather, but one member of an 18-person hiking party that made it back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”