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Rescue teams have safely led all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to security, including scores of regional escorts and livestock handlers, authorities reported. This wraps up one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever conducted in the zone.

Massive Rescue Operation Completed

Several hundred of explorers were found themselves stuck in heavy snow over the past few days in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally intense winter blast deposited heavy snowfall across the territory.

Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Initial updates had estimated that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were projected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, in addition to more than 300 escorts, yak herders, and other assistants were rescued, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Harsh Conditions

One from China traveler described how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, forcing them to clear it every 90 minutes. They decided to go down on Sunday as the weather became more severe.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was deep in the valley, too; local residents, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Expedition Schedules Disrupted

The blizzard also thwarted the objectives of climbers escorted by a American mountaineering firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by foreign explorers a century ago. In the past few years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent tourism attraction, the area has drawn an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Area Remains Closed

The Everest region remains temporarily closed to the visitors, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced hundreds of travelers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person lost their life, due to a combination of hypothermia and altitude sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally clear and mild weather, but one member of an 18-person hiking party that got back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “unusual.”