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Search parties have safely led all of the last hikers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to security, including hundreds of local guides and livestock handlers, authorities reported. This marks the end one of the biggest rescue and recovery missions ever undertaken in the area.

Large-Scale Evacuation Operation Concluded

Numerous of hikers were became trapped in heavy snow over the recent weekend in the remote Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense snowstorm dumped heavy snowfall across the territory.

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

Earlier reports had estimated that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were projected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 local guides, animal handlers, and other crew members were brought out, according to official statements released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Describe Extreme Conditions

One Chinese hiker described how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the situation deteriorated.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we learned the snow was heavy in the valley, too; community members, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Plans Disrupted

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

Visitor Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by western adventurers a long time ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent visitor draw, the area has brought in an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, establishing a unprecedented number.

Area Still Closed

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

Broader Effect

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

Unusual Conditions

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