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Search parties have escorted all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to security, including hundreds of native guides and animal tenders, officials announced. This wraps up one of the biggest rescue and recovery missions ever undertaken in the zone.

Large-Scale Rescue Effort Completed

Several hundred of trekkers were became trapped in thick snow over the recent weekend in the remote Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense winter blast unleashed heavy snowfall across the area.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had escorted approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Previous accounts had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were projected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, in addition to more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other support staff were evacuated, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday night.

Those Rescued Recount Severe Situations

One from China hiker described how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, compelling them to clear it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on Sunday as the situation became more severe.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we found out the snow was deep in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Expedition Plans Disrupted

The blizzard also hindered the objectives of mountaineers escorted by a United States expedition outfit to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by western travelers a century ago. In the past few years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism attraction, the area has brought in an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers visited the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Region Remains Closed

The Everest region remains currently inaccessible to the visitors, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of trekkers in other parts of the western regions of China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one traveler succumbed, due to a blend of exposure and altitude sickness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with normally fine and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person hiking party that returned safely to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “atypical.”