The World's Highest Peak Trekkers Report 'Extreme' Conditions as Massive Operation Persists

Hikers have recounted facing "extreme" conditions after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's most crowded festive periods stranded hundreds of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a large-scale rescue operation.

Evacuation Efforts Underway

Officials in China reported that around 350 people 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 Tibet side of the border.

Crowds of tourists had journeyed to the area for "Golden Week," an week-long holiday period in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed intense snow had affected the area on the weekend, stranding numerous of people at tent sites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the harshest weather I've experienced in all my trekking adventures, without question," a Chinese trekker stated on Weibo, detailing a "intense snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and noticed that the accumulation had almost covered the peak," shared a hiker on Xiaohongshu. "That was the first time I truly felt the fear of being buried alive."

Eyewitness Reports

A hiker from China mentioned their party had been "too frightened to sleep" on that night as snow rapidly built up around their shelters, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on the next day 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 storm was heavy in the lowlands too; locals, unable to contact their family on the mountain, were extremely worried."

The northern and eastern side of Everest is easier to reach than locations on the Nepal side of the border and draws high numbers of visitors for less technical hiking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Visual Evidence

Photos and video posted online showed shelters covered by snow and rows of hikers moving through deep drifts to descend the mountain.

"The snow was very deep, and the trail very slick. Trekkers stumbled frequently – a few tumbled, some were jostled by yaks," noted a trekker, who clarified that everyone made it down and were transported by bus.

Latest Developments

By Sunday afternoon, about 350 individuals had arrived in Qudang, a small town roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibet-side base camp of Everest, "safe and sound," state media announced.

At least 200 additional remained trapped but had been contacted, the reports indicated. Media outlets stated that scores of emergency workers had ascended the mountain to assist those trapped and clear snow from obstructing the way out.

There was minimal updates or updated information about the rescue effort on the following day. Uncertainty remained if the storm had impacted anyone on the northern side of Everest, within the same region. The area is strictly regulated by the Chinese government, and media entry is restricted. The conditions also seemed to have affected local communications, with attempts to contact shops not connecting. Several trekkers said power was out in Qudang when they arrived.

Seasonal Context

October is a peak season for the area, with usually calm and pleasant conditions, but one trekker, one of 18 members of a hiking party that made it back to Qudang, commented that the climate this year was "unusual."

"The guide told us he had never encountered conditions like this in the fall. And it occurred all too suddenly."

The local tourism authority announced admissions and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from the weekend.

Broader Effects

Neighbouring countries were affected as well by extreme weather. Torrential downpours caused landslides and sudden flooding that have blocked roads, destroyed crossings, and claimed the lives of at least 47 people since the start of the weekend in the neighboring country.