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Emergency crews have escorted all of the remaining adventurers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to safety, including numerous of local guides and yak herders, local government announced. This wraps up one of the largest rescue and recovery missions ever conducted in the area.

Large-Scale Evacuation Operation Completed

Hundreds of hikers were became trapped in heavy snow over the past few days in the remote Karma valley, after an unusually powerful blizzard unleashed heavy snowfall across the area.

Snow kept coming down all day Saturday in the valley, which is located at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had escorted approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Previous accounts had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were expected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, in addition to more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other support staff were brought out, according to authoritative statements released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Describe Extreme Conditions

One Chinese trekker shared how their group had been “too frightened 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 worsened.

“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; local residents, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Climbing Schedules Disrupted

The snowstorm also disrupted the objectives of climbers escorted by a United States expedition company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by western travelers a hundred years ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism attraction, the area has attracted an rising number of tourists. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, marking a new record.

Area Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region remains for the time being off-limits to the public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also impacted numerous of hikers in other parts of the western regions of China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one traveler lost their life, due to a blend of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a high season for the area, with usually sunny and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “not normal.”