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Search parties have successfully guided all of the last adventurers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including numerous of regional escorts and yak herders, local government stated. This marks the end one of the most extensive rescue and recovery missions ever conducted in the zone.

Large-Scale Evacuation Operation Concluded

Several hundred of trekkers were became trapped in heavy snow over the recent weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce blizzard unleashed significant snowfall across the area.

Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Initial updates had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were anticipated to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, in addition to more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other assistants were brought out, according to official statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Harsh Conditions

One from China hiker recalled how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to descend on Sunday as the conditions worsened.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we realized the snow was deep in the valley, too; local residents, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Schedules Disrupted

The severe weather also thwarted the objectives of alpinists led by a American expedition firm to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by foreign travelers a century ago. In recent years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant travel destination, the area has brought in an growing number of tourists. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Region Still Off-Limits

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

Broader Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected hundreds of trekkers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person succumbed, due to a mix of hypothermia and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with typically sunny and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “atypical.”