🔗 Share this article Every Single Mountaineers Now Out of Danger After Multiple Days Trapped in Intense Blizzard Search parties have successfully guided all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to safety, along with numerous of local guides and animal tenders, local government announced. This wraps up one of the biggest rescue and recovery operations ever undertaken in the area. Large-Scale Rescue Effort Concluded Numerous of trekkers were became trapped in heavy snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm dumped significant snowfall across the area. Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which is located at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had led approximately 350 hikers to security. Previous accounts had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were projected to reach safety by Tuesday. In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 local guides, animal handlers, and other assistants were evacuated, according to official statements released on Tuesday late in the day. Those Rescued Describe Harsh Situations One Chinese trekker described how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated. “On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had come looking 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 Schedules Disrupted The severe weather also hindered the goals of alpinists guided by a American climbing firm to reach the top of 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 discovered by western travelers a long time ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a major travel attraction, the area has drawn an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers visited the Everest region last year, marking a all-time high. Region Remains Closed The Everest region remains temporarily inaccessible to the general public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu. Wider Effect The intense snowfall over the weekend also impacted many of hikers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual died, due to a blend of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness. Atypical Conditions October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically fine and moderate weather, but one participant of an 18-person expedition team that returned safely to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”