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Search parties have successfully guided all of the remaining hikers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to security, along with scores of local guides and yak herders, authorities announced. This marks the end one of the largest rescue and recovery efforts ever seen in the area.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Completed

Hundreds of trekkers were left stranded in heavy snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally intense blizzard deposited substantial snowfall across the territory.

Snow kept coming down all day Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Earlier reports had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were expected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, in addition to more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other support staff were evacuated, according to official reports released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Describe Extreme Conditions

One Chinese trekker recalled how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to descend on Sunday as the situation worsened.

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

Climbing Schedules Thwarted

The severe weather also thwarted the objectives of climbers guided by a US-based climbing company to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by foreign travelers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent travel draw, the area has attracted an growing number of tourists. More than 540,000 visitors visited the Everest region last year, establishing a unprecedented number.

Region Remains Off-Limits

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

Broader Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced hundreds of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one traveler succumbed, due to a mix of hypothermia and altitude sickness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally sunny and mild weather, but one participant of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”