"All stranded Everest climbers rescued following fierce blizzard ordeal"

Rescuers Assist All Remaining Trekkers Near Everest’s East Face to Safety

Rescuers successfully guided the last group of trekkers near the east face of Everest in Tibet to safety, including hundreds of local guides and yak herders, authorities confirmed. This marked the conclusion of one of the largest search-and-rescue operations in the area.

Over the weekend, hundreds of hikers were stranded in heavy snow in the remote Karma valley after an unusually intense blizzard hit the region.

Snow continued falling throughout Saturday in the valley, situated at an average elevation of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had already led approximately 350 trekkers to safety.

An earlier Reuters report, citing a source, stated that the remaining 200 hikers were expected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, alongside more than 300 guides, yak herders, and support staff, were evacuated, according to the official Xinhua news agency on Tuesday evening.

One Chinese trekker recounted that their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, requiring them to clear it every 90 minutes. As conditions worsened, they decided to descend the following day.

“During our descent, we met the father of our guide, who had come searching for him. That’s when we learned the valley was also severely affected. Villagers, unable to reach their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned,” they said.

The storm also disrupted plans for climbers with US-based Madison Mountaineering, who had aimed to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the China-Nepal border.

Karma valley was first explored by Western travelers a century ago. In recent years, with the growth of tourism in Tibet’s Everest region, it has drawn increasing numbers of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists visited the area last year, setting a new record.

The Everest region, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys as well as Cho Oyu, remains temporarily closed to the public, Xinhua reported.

The heavy snowfall also impacted hundreds of hikers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. At least one fatality was reported due to a combination of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness.

October is typically a peak season for the region, known for clear and mild weather. However, Chen Geshuang, a member of a trekking group that safely returned to Qudang, remarked that this year’s weather was “not normal.”