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Emergency crews have escorted all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to safety, including scores of regional escorts and animal tenders, authorities reported. This marks the end one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever conducted in the region.

Large-Scale Evacuation Operation Completed

Numerous of trekkers were left stranded in thick snow over the past few days in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually intense winter blast dumped significant snowfall across the area.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had escorted approximately 350 hikers to security.

Initial updates had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 individuals were expected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, coupled with more than 300 guides, animal handlers, and other assistants were brought out, according to official statements released on Tuesday night.

Those Rescued Recount Extreme Situations

One from China traveler described how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we found out the snow was deep in the valley, too; community members, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Schedules Disrupted

The severe weather also hindered the plans of mountaineers guided by a United States climbing company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by western adventurers a long time ago. In recent years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent visitor attraction, the area has attracted an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Region Still Off-Limits

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

Wider Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced hundreds of hikers in other parts of the western regions of China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person died, due to a mix of low body temperature and altitude sickness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically sunny and pleasant weather, but one participant of an 18-person expedition team that got back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “not normal.”