🔗 Share this article Every Single Hikers Currently Safe After Days Caught in Severe Winter Storm Rescue teams have escorted all of the last trekkers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to safety, along with numerous of native guides and animal tenders, local government announced. This marks the end one of the biggest rescue and recovery missions ever undertaken in the area. Large-Scale Evacuation Operation Concluded Several hundred of hikers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally fierce blizzard unleashed heavy snowfall across the region. Snow continued to fall throughout Saturday in the valley, which is located at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to security. Initial updates had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were expected to reach safety by Tuesday. In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other support staff were rescued, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday night. Survivors Recount Severe Conditions One Chinese hiker described how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to clear it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on Sunday as the weather deteriorated. “On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we realized the snow was heavy in the valley, too; villagers, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.” Expedition Schedules Thwarted The snowstorm also hindered the goals of alpinists led by a American climbing outfit to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal. Visitor Growth in the Region Karma valley was first visited by international travelers a long time ago. In recent years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent visitor destination, the area has drawn an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number. Area Remains Closed The Everest region continues to be currently inaccessible to the visitors, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu. Broader Effect The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of travelers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one person died, due to a blend of low body temperature and altitude sickness. Unusual Conditions October is typically a high season for the area, with normally fine and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person expedition team that got back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”