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Search parties have safely led all of the remaining hikers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to a secure location, including scores of native guides and livestock handlers, authorities announced. This marks the end one of the biggest rescue and recovery efforts ever seen in the zone.

Large-Scale Evacuation Effort Completed

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

Snow kept coming down all day Saturday in the valley, which sits at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Earlier reports had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were projected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 guides, yak herders, and other assistants were evacuated, according to official announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Describe Extreme Situations

One Chinese traveler shared how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, obliging them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They chose to go down on Sunday as the situation worsened.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we found out the snow was deep in the valley, too; local residents, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Expedition Schedules Disrupted

The blizzard also hindered the objectives of alpinists escorted by a US-based expedition firm to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by foreign explorers a hundred years ago. In the past few years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent tourism attraction, the area has brought in an rising number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers explored the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Area Still Closed

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

Wider Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual died, due to a mix of exposure and altitude sickness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically sunny and moderate weather, but one participant of an 18-person hiking party that made it back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “atypical.”