Every Single Trekkers Now Safe After Multiple Days Stranded in Intense Snowstorm

Emergency crews have escorted all of the remaining hikers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including hundreds of native guides and livestock handlers, local government reported. This concludes one of the most extensive search-and-rescue operations ever seen in the area.

Large-Scale Rescue Effort Completed

Hundreds of hikers were left stranded in deep snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm dumped substantial snowfall across the area.

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

Earlier reports had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were projected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, coupled with more than 300 guides, yak herders, and other assistants were evacuated, according to government reports released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Harsh Conditions

One from China traveler described how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the conditions became more severe.

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

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The snowstorm also disrupted the goals of alpinists guided by a US-based mountaineering company to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by international adventurers a hundred years ago. In recent years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a major travel draw, the area has attracted an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Region Remains Closed

The Everest region continues to be currently closed to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The intense snowfall over the weekend also influenced hundreds of trekkers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual died, due to a mix of exposure and altitude sickness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically sunny and pleasant weather, but one participant of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “unusual.”