🔗 Share this article Every Single Trekkers Currently Out of Danger Following Multiple Days Trapped in Severe Blizzard Search parties have successfully guided all of the remaining adventurers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to a secure location, along with scores of local guides and yak herders, local government announced. This marks the end one of the biggest search-and-rescue missions ever conducted in the zone. Large-Scale Rescue Effort Concluded Numerous of explorers were found themselves stuck in deep snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally fierce snowstorm deposited substantial snowfall across the territory. Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had guided approximately 350 hikers to safety. Previous accounts had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday. In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other support staff were evacuated, according to government 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 rapidly accumulated around their tents, obliging them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They decided to go down on Sunday as the weather became more severe. “On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we learned the snow was intense in the valley, too; local residents, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.” Expedition Schedules Disrupted The severe weather also hindered the plans of climbers led by a American mountaineering company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and Nepal. Tourism Increase in the Region Karma valley was first explored by western travelers a century ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant visitor draw, the area has brought in an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 visitors visited the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number. Region Still Off-Limits The Everest region continues to be temporarily closed to the public, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu. Wider Impact The heavy snowfall over the weekend also affected many of hikers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual lost their life, due to a mix of low body temperature and acute mountain sickness. Atypical Weather October is typically a peak season for the area, with typically fine and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “not normal.”