Every Single Trekkers Now Out of Danger After Multiple Days Caught in Severe Winter Storm

Rescue teams have safely led all of the last trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, along with numerous of local guides and yak herders, officials stated. This marks the end one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts ever conducted in the region.

Massive Evacuation Operation Completed

Several hundred of trekkers were became trapped in deep snow over the recent weekend in the remote Karma valley, after an unusually powerful winter blast unleashed substantial snowfall across the territory.

Snow continued to fall throughout Saturday in the valley, which sits at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had escorted approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Initial updates had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were projected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other crew members were evacuated, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday night.

Those Rescued Recount Extreme Situations

One from China hiker shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, forcing them to clear it every 90 minutes. They decided to go down on Sunday as the conditions became more severe.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we realized the snow was deep in the valley, too; community members, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Climbing Plans Disrupted

The blizzard also thwarted the plans of climbers guided by a US-based mountaineering firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by western travelers a century ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism draw, the area has drawn an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists visited the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Area Still Off-Limits

The Everest region is still for the time being inaccessible to the public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of trekkers in other parts of the western regions of China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual succumbed, due to a blend of low body temperature and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with normally sunny and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”