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Search parties have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to security, along with numerous of local guides and animal tenders, local government reported. This concludes one of the largest search-and-rescue missions ever undertaken in the region.

Massive Rescue Operation Completed

Hundreds of explorers were left stranded in deep snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm dumped heavy snowfall across the territory.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to security.

Initial updates had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were expected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

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

Those Rescued Recount Severe Conditions

One from China traveler recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted 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 realized the snow was intense in the valley, too; community members, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Schedules Thwarted

The snowstorm also disrupted the plans of mountaineers escorted by a United States mountaineering company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by international adventurers a hundred years ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent visitor attraction, the area has brought in an growing number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, marking a all-time high.

Region Still Off-Limits

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

Broader Effect

The intense snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of trekkers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual succumbed, due to a mix of low body temperature and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a high season for the area, with usually fine and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person hiking party that made it back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”