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Emergency crews have safely led all of the last hikers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to a secure location, including scores of local guides and animal tenders, local government announced. This marks the end one of the most extensive search-and-rescue efforts ever conducted in the zone.

Large-Scale Evacuation Effort Concluded

Hundreds of explorers were became trapped in deep snow over the recent weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense snowstorm unleashed substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow kept coming down all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

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

In total, 580 hikers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other support staff were rescued, according to government announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Describe Harsh Conditions

One Chinese hiker described how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to go down on Sunday as the situation worsened.

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

Climbing Plans Disrupted

The severe weather also disrupted the goals of alpinists guided by a United States climbing company to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by international adventurers a hundred years ago. In modern times, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant visitor destination, the area has drawn an rising number of tourists. More than 540,000 sightseers explored the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Region Still Closed

The Everest region remains currently closed to the public, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also impacted many of travelers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one person lost their life, due to a combination of low body temperature and altitude sickness.

Atypical Conditions

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