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Search parties have escorted all of the remaining adventurers near the eastern slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including hundreds of native guides and livestock handlers, officials reported. This marks the end one of the biggest search-and-rescue efforts ever undertaken in the zone.

Large-Scale Evacuation Effort Completed

Hundreds of hikers were found themselves stuck in deep snow over the weekend in the remote Karma valley, after an exceptionally intense snowstorm deposited heavy snowfall across the territory.

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 led approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Earlier reports had estimated that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were expected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 local guides, livestock herders, and other support staff were brought out, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday evening.

Those Rescued Describe Harsh Conditions

One Chinese traveler described how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, compelling them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on Sunday as the conditions became more severe.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we realized the snow was intense in the valley, too; local residents, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Expedition Plans Thwarted

The snowstorm also hindered the objectives of climbers escorted by a American climbing company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first visited by foreign adventurers a long time ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism draw, the area has attracted an growing number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region is still temporarily off-limits to the visitors, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also impacted hundreds of travelers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one traveler lost their life, due to a blend of exposure and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a peak season for the area, with typically fine and moderate weather, but one member of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”