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Emergency crews have safely led all of the last trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to safety, along with hundreds of native guides and animal tenders, local government announced. This marks the end one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts ever seen in the zone.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Concluded

Hundreds of trekkers were left stranded in deep snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense blizzard unleashed heavy snowfall across the area.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had escorted approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Initial updates had estimated that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach their destination by Tuesday.

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

Those Rescued Describe Extreme Situations

One from China trekker described how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on Sunday as the situation worsened.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we learned the snow was intense in the valley, too; community members, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Schedules Disrupted

The severe weather also thwarted the plans of mountaineers led by a American climbing company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by western explorers a hundred years ago. In modern times, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent visitor attraction, the area has drawn an growing number of tourists. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Region Still Closed

The Everest region remains temporarily inaccessible to the public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of hikers in other parts of the western regions of China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual lost their life, due to a combination of exposure and acute mountain sickness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a high season for the area, with normally sunny and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person hiking party that made it back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “atypical.”