Every Single Trekkers Currently Out of Danger Following Days Caught in Intense Winter Storm

Rescue teams have successfully guided all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to a secure location, including numerous of native guides and animal tenders, local government announced. This wraps up one of the biggest rescue and recovery efforts ever conducted in the area.

Massive Rescue Effort Completed

Numerous of explorers were left stranded in heavy snow over the recent weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally fierce blizzard unleashed substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had escorted approximately 350 hikers to security.

Initial updates had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were projected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

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

Survivors Recount Harsh Conditions

One Chinese hiker recalled how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to move to lower ground on Sunday as the situation became more severe.

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

Climbing Plans Disrupted

The blizzard also disrupted the goals of mountaineers led by a American expedition outfit to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first visited by international adventurers a long time ago. In recent years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant travel draw, the area has brought in an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists visited the Everest region last year, setting a unprecedented number.

Area Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region continues to be currently closed to the public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of trekkers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual lost their life, due to a blend of exposure and altitude sickness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with typically clear and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person expedition team that made it back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”