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Search parties have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to security, along with hundreds of regional escorts and animal tenders, local government announced. This wraps up one of the most extensive rescue and recovery missions ever seen in the region.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Concluded

Numerous of hikers were became trapped in heavy snow over the recent weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful winter blast deposited substantial snowfall across the area.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had escorted approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Earlier reports had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 individuals were anticipated to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other crew members were brought out, according to authoritative statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Recount Harsh Conditions

One from China hiker shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, compelling them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to descend on Sunday as the conditions worsened.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we realized the snow was intense in the valley, too; local residents, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Expedition Schedules Disrupted

The blizzard also disrupted the objectives of alpinists escorted by a American mountaineering outfit to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by international adventurers a hundred years ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant visitor draw, the area has brought in an growing number of tourists. More than 540,000 visitors visited the Everest region last year, establishing a unprecedented number.

Area Still Off-Limits

The Everest region remains temporarily off-limits to the public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of travelers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person lost their life, due to a combination of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a peak season for the area, with usually fine and moderate weather, but one participant of an 18-person hiking party that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “not normal.”