🔗 Share this article All Trekkers Now Safe After Days Caught in Intense Winter Storm Search parties have escorted all of the remaining hikers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to safety, along with numerous of regional escorts and yak herders, local government reported. This concludes one of the biggest search-and-rescue efforts ever conducted in the region. Massive Evacuation Operation Completed Several hundred of hikers were became trapped in thick snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly powerful winter blast deposited substantial snowfall across the territory. Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to security. Previous accounts had estimated that the remaining roughly 200 individuals were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday. In total, 580 trekkers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, animal handlers, and other support staff were evacuated, according to government statements released on Tuesday evening. Survivors Recount Harsh Situations One from China traveler recalled how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the situation deteriorated. “On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we found out the snow was heavy in the valley, too; community members, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.” Expedition Schedules Disrupted The severe weather also thwarted the objectives of mountaineers escorted by a United States climbing outfit 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 Increase in the Area Karma valley was first discovered by western travelers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism draw, the area has brought in an growing number of tourists. More than 540,000 sightseers explored the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high. Area Still Closed The Everest region continues to be temporarily off-limits to the public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu. Wider Impact The significant snowfall over the weekend also impacted many of travelers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one person lost their life, due to a combination of hypothermia and high-altitude illness. Atypical Weather October is typically a busy season for the area, with normally clear and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person trekking group that made it back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “atypical.”