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Emergency crews have safely led all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to a secure location, along with hundreds of regional escorts and livestock handlers, local government announced. This marks the end one of the biggest search-and-rescue efforts ever undertaken in the region.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Concluded

Several hundred of explorers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the past few days in the remote Karma valley, after an exceptionally fierce blizzard unleashed substantial snowfall across the area.

Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had escorted approximately 350 hikers to security.

Previous accounts had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 individuals were expected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 escorts, livestock herders, and other crew members were rescued, according to authoritative statements released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Harsh Conditions

One from China traveler recalled how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the situation deteriorated.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we realized the snow was heavy in the valley, too; local residents, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Climbing Schedules Thwarted

The snowstorm also hindered the plans of climbers led by a American climbing company to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first visited by international travelers a century ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent travel draw, the area has drawn an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 visitors explored the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region is still currently off-limits to the public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of trekkers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual succumbed, due to a combination of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a busy season for the area, with usually clear and mild weather, but one member of an 18-person hiking party that made it back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “atypical.”