The World's Highest Peak Trekkers Describe 'Extreme' Conditions as Large-Scale Operation Continues

Trekkers have recounted facing "harsh" situations after an unseasonable snowstorm during one of China's busiest festive periods stranded hundreds of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a massive rescue effort.

Evacuation Efforts In Progress

Chinese authorities stated that approximately 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the east of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Crowds of tourists had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an week-long holiday period in China. However, local officials, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said intense snow had affected the area on Friday and Saturday night, stranding numerous of individuals at tent sites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"This was the most extreme weather I've ever faced in all my trekking experiences, without question," a Chinese trekker said on Weibo, describing a "intense snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"I looked up in the late hours and noticed that the accumulation had nearly buried the top," shared a hiker on a social platform. "It was the initial instance I truly felt the fear of being engulfed by snow."

Personal Accounts

A hiker from China mentioned their party had been "too scared to sleep" on that night as snow rapidly built up around their tents, forcing them to remove it hourly. They decided to go down on the next day as the weather deteriorated.

"During the descent, we met our guide’s parent who had searched for him. It was then we discovered the snow was intense in the valley as well; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The north and east side of Everest is easier to reach than locations on the neighboring side of the border and attracts large crowds of tourists for easier trekking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Visual Evidence

Images and footage shared on the internet depicted tents buried in snow and rows of hikers moving through deep drifts to get down the mountain.

"The snow was extremely thick, and the trail extremely slippery. Trekkers often slipped – some fell, others were bumped by yaks," noted a trekker, who added that everyone made it down and were picked up by bus.

Current Status

By the weekend, approximately 350 individuals had reached Qudang, a small town about 30 miles away from the Tibetan starting point of Everest, "safe and sound," official sources announced.

No fewer than 200 additional were still stranded but had been reached, the updates said. Media outlets stated that scores of rescuers had ascended the mountain to help people and clear snow from blocking the way out.

Officials provided minimal updates or updated information about the rescue effort on Monday. It was also not clear if the storm had impacted anyone on the northern side of Everest, within the same region. The region is tightly controlled by the authorities, and journalistic access is limited. The conditions also seemed to have disrupted local communications, with attempts to contact shops failing. Several trekkers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they arrived.

Seasonal Context

Autumn is a peak season for the area, with typically calm and pleasant conditions, but Chen Geshuang, one of 18 participants of a trekking group that made it back to Qudang, said that the weather this year was "unusual."

"Our leader told us he had not experienced conditions like this in the fall. And it occurred very abruptly."

The regional travel department announced ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from the weekend.

Broader Effects

Neighbouring countries were affected as well by severe conditions. Heavy rains caused landslides and sudden flooding that have closed routes, washed away bridges, and killed at least 47 individuals since Friday in Nepal.