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Rescue teams have safely led all of the remaining adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to security, including hundreds of regional escorts and livestock handlers, officials stated. This concludes one of the largest rescue and recovery efforts ever seen in the zone.

Massive Evacuation Operation Completed

Several hundred of hikers were found themselves stuck in deep snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually intense winter blast deposited substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow continued to fall throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Earlier reports had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were expected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other crew members were evacuated, according to official announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Recount Severe Conditions

One Chinese traveler recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted 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 ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was heavy in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Expedition Plans Disrupted

The severe weather also hindered the plans of alpinists escorted by a US-based climbing outfit to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first visited by western adventurers a century ago. In modern times, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant visitor destination, the area has brought in an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Area Still Off-Limits

The Everest region remains currently inaccessible to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also affected hundreds of travelers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual lost their life, due to a blend of exposure and acute mountain sickness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally sunny and mild weather, but one participant of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “not normal.”