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Emergency crews have safely led all of the remaining hikers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to security, along with hundreds of local guides and animal tenders, officials announced. This wraps up one of the largest rescue and recovery efforts ever seen in the zone.

Large-Scale Evacuation Operation Concluded

Several hundred of explorers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an unusually intense blizzard deposited heavy snowfall across the area.

Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which is located at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had guided approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Initial updates had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were expected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, along with more than 300 guides, animal handlers, and other assistants were evacuated, according to official statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Describe Severe Conditions

One Chinese hiker shared how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to descend on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated.

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

Expedition Plans Thwarted

The severe weather also disrupted the goals of mountaineers led by a American climbing outfit to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by western travelers a hundred years ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major travel draw, the area has attracted an growing number of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Region Remains Closed

The Everest region continues to be temporarily inaccessible to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also impacted numerous of hikers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual died, due to a combination of low body temperature and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a high season for the area, with normally clear and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “atypical.”