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Search parties have successfully guided all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to a secure location, including numerous of local guides and animal tenders, local government reported. This wraps up one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever seen in the region.

Massive Rescue Operation Concluded

Numerous of explorers were found themselves stuck in heavy snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce snowstorm dumped substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had escorted approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Initial updates had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 individuals were projected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other assistants were rescued, according to official announcements released on Tuesday evening.

Those Rescued Describe Severe Conditions

One from China trekker shared how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we realized the snow was heavy in the valley, too; community members, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The severe weather also thwarted the plans of alpinists escorted by a American expedition firm 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 Region

Karma valley was first discovered by foreign travelers a century ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent tourism attraction, the area has drawn an rising number of visitors. More than 540,000 visitors traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Region Remains Closed

The Everest region remains temporarily closed to the general public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual succumbed, due to a blend of low body temperature and altitude sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a busy season for the area, with usually fine and pleasant weather, but one participant of an 18-person hiking party that got back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”