🔗 Share this article The World's Highest Peak Trekkers Report 'Severe' Conditions as Massive Rescue Effort Continues Hikers have recounted encountering "extreme" situations after an unexpected blizzard during one of China's most crowded holiday weekends stranded numerous of people on Mount Everest, sparking a massive rescue operation. Rescue Operations In Progress Officials in China stated that around 350 people had descended safely but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the east of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border. Large groups of tourists had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day holiday period in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed intense snow had affected the area on Friday and Saturday night, stranding numerous of individuals at tent sites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet). "It was the harshest weather I've experienced in all my trekking experiences, undoubtedly," Dong Shuchang stated on social media, detailing a "intense blizzard on the east face" of Everest. "Glancing upward in the middle of the night and saw that the snow had almost buried the peak," said a hiker on Xiaohongshu. "It was the initial instance I genuinely experienced the terror of being buried alive." Personal Accounts A hiker from China mentioned their party had been "too scared to sleep" on that night as accumulation quickly piled up around their shelters, compelling them to clear it hourly. They decided to descend on Sunday as the conditions worsened. "On the way, we met our guide's father who had come looking for him. That's when we learned the snow was intense in the lowlands as well; villagers, unable to reach their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned." The northern and eastern side of Everest is more accessible than locations on the Nepal side of the border and draws large crowds of visitors for less technical trekking, not requiring ascent of the peak. Online Documentation Photos and video shared on the internet showed tents buried in snow and lines of trekkers walking through deep drifts to get down the mountain. "The snow was very deep, and the trail very slick. Hikers stumbled frequently – some fell, others were bumped by pack animals," noted a trekker, who clarified that everyone made it down and were transported by bus. Latest Developments By the weekend, approximately 350 people had reached Qudang, a village roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibetan starting point of Everest, "in good health," state media announced. No fewer than 200 more were still stranded but had been reached, the reports said. Local news reported that scores of rescuers had gone up the mountain to assist those trapped and clear snow from obstructing the way out. Officials provided little official reporting or new details about the operation on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the weather had impacted individuals on the northern side of Everest, also in Tibet. The area is strictly regulated by the authorities, and journalistic access is restricted. The conditions also appears to have have disrupted phone services, with attempts to contact shops failing. Several trekkers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they arrived. Seasonal Context Autumn is a peak season for the region, with usually calm and pleasant conditions, but one trekker, one of 18 participants of a hiking party that made it back to Qudang, said that the weather this year was "unusual." "Our leader told us he had not experienced conditions like this in the fall. And it happened all too suddenly." The regional travel department said admissions and access to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from the weekend. Broader Effects Neighbouring countries were also hit by severe conditions. Torrential downpours triggered landslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and claimed the lives of at least 47 people since Friday in the neighboring country.