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Rescue teams have safely led all of the last hikers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to security, along with hundreds of native guides and animal tenders, local government reported. This wraps up one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever seen in the zone.

Massive Evacuation Operation Completed

Hundreds of trekkers were became trapped in heavy snow over the recent weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually fierce snowstorm dumped heavy snowfall across the territory.

Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had guided approximately 350 hikers to safety.

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

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other crew members were evacuated, according to government announcements released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Extreme Conditions

One Chinese hiker described how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to clear it every 90 minutes. They opted to descend on Sunday as the weather worsened.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we realized the snow was intense in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The blizzard also hindered the objectives of mountaineers guided by a US-based expedition company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by western adventurers a hundred years ago. In modern times, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a major 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 unprecedented number.

Region Still Off-Limits

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

Broader Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also impacted hundreds of trekkers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one traveler died, due to a combination of low body temperature and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with usually clear and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”