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Rescue teams have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to a secure location, including hundreds of native guides and yak herders, local government announced. This wraps up one of the most extensive rescue and recovery efforts ever conducted in the region.

Massive Rescue Effort Concluded

Hundreds of hikers were left stranded in thick snow over the past few days in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm deposited heavy snowfall across the area.

Snow continued to fall all day 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 security.

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

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 guides, animal handlers, and other assistants were brought out, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Harsh Conditions

One from China hiker shared how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, compelling them to clear it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on Sunday as the weather became more severe.

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

Expedition Plans Disrupted

The snowstorm also thwarted the objectives of climbers led by a United States climbing outfit to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first visited by western travelers a hundred years ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent travel draw, the area has brought in an rising number of visitors. More than 540,000 visitors explored the Everest region last year, setting a unprecedented number.

Area Remains Closed

The Everest region is still for the time being off-limits to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of trekkers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one traveler lost their life, due to a blend of hypothermia and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Weather

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