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Rescue teams have safely led all of the last hikers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to safety, including scores of local guides and yak herders, authorities reported. This marks the end one of the largest search-and-rescue missions ever undertaken in the region.

Large-Scale Evacuation Operation Completed

Hundreds of explorers were became trapped in deep snow over the recent weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally fierce winter blast deposited significant snowfall across the region.

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

Initial updates had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were expected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, along with more than 300 guides, livestock herders, and other support staff were brought out, according to authoritative statements released on Tuesday night.

Those Rescued Recount Severe Situations

One from China trekker recalled how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, obliging them to clear it every 90 minutes. They chose to move to lower ground on Sunday as the conditions became more severe.

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

Expedition Plans Thwarted

The blizzard also thwarted the plans of climbers led by a US-based climbing company to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by western travelers a century ago. In the past few years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism destination, the area has drawn an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Area Still Off-Limits

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

Wider Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected hundreds of travelers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual died, due to a blend of low body temperature and altitude sickness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically fine and pleasant weather, but one trekker of an 18-person expedition team that returned safely to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”