All Mountaineers Now Safe After Days Trapped in Severe Snowstorm
Emergency crews have escorted all of the last trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to safety, including hundreds of native guides and livestock handlers, officials reported. This concludes one of the most extensive rescue and recovery efforts ever undertaken in the area.
Large-Scale Rescue Operation Completed
Numerous of explorers were found themselves stuck in deep snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally fierce snowstorm unleashed significant snowfall across the region.
Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which is located at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had led approximately 350 hikers to security.
Initial updates had estimated that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday.
In total, 580 trekkers, along with more than 300 guides, animal handlers, and other assistants were rescued, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday evening.
Those Rescued Describe Harsh Conditions
One Chinese hiker described how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to clear it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the conditions worsened.
“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; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”
Climbing Plans Disrupted
The severe weather also disrupted the goals of climbers escorted by a US-based expedition outfit 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 Area
Karma valley was first discovered by foreign explorers a century ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent visitor destination, the area has attracted an growing number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers visited the Everest region last year, marking a new record.
Region Remains Off-Limits
The Everest region continues to be temporarily off-limits to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.
Wider Effect
The intense snowfall over the weekend also impacted numerous of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one traveler succumbed, due to a blend of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness.
Unusual Weather
October is typically a peak season for the area, with usually clear and mild weather, but one participant of an 18-person expedition team that made it back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “unusual.”