The World's Highest Peak Trekkers Report 'Severe' Conditions as Large-Scale Operation Persists

Hikers have described encountering "harsh" situations after an unseasonable snowstorm during one of China's most crowded festive periods trapped hundreds of individuals on Mount Everest, triggering a massive rescue effort.

Rescue Operations In Progress

Officials in China stated that around 350 individuals had descended safely but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, located to the east of the mountain, on the Tibet side of the border.

Large groups of visitors had journeyed to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day festive break in China. However, Chinese authorities, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said intense snow had affected the area on the weekend, stranding numerous of people at campsites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the most extreme weather I've ever faced in all my trekking experiences, undoubtedly," a Chinese trekker said on Weibo, describing a "intense snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"I looked up in the middle of the night and noticed that the accumulation had nearly covered the peak," shared another trekker on Xiaohongshu. "It was the initial instance 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 Saturday as accumulation rapidly built up around their shelters, compelling them to clear it hourly. They decided to go down on the next day as the conditions deteriorated.

"On the way, we encountered our guide’s parent who had searched for him. It was then we learned the snow was intense in the valley too; locals, 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 Nepal side of the border and attracts large crowds of tourists for less technical trekking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Online Documentation

Images and footage shared on the internet showed tents covered by snow and lines of trekkers moving through deep drifts to descend the mountain.

"It was extremely thick, and the trail extremely slippery. Trekkers stumbled frequently – a few tumbled, some were jostled by pack animals," said one, who clarified that all safely descended and were picked up by bus.

Latest Developments

By Sunday afternoon, about 350 individuals had reached Qudang, a small town roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibet-side starting point of Everest, "in good health," state media announced.

At least 200 more were still stranded but had been contacted, the reports said. Media outlets reported that scores of rescuers had gone up the mountain to help people and remove accumulation from blocking the way out.

Officials provided little official reporting or updated information about the rescue effort on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the storm had impacted individuals on the north face of Everest, also in Tibet. The area is tightly controlled by the Chinese government, and media entry is limited. The conditions also seemed to have disrupted local communications, with calls to local businesses failing. Several trekkers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town.

Seasonal Context

Autumn is a peak season for the area, with typically clear and mild weather, but Chen Geshuang, among 18 members of a hiking party that returned to Qudang, said that the climate this year was "not normal."

"The guide said he had not experienced such weather in October. And it occurred very abruptly."

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

Broader Effects

Neighbouring countries were also hit by extreme weather. Heavy rains caused landslides and sudden flooding that have closed routes, destroyed crossings, and killed at least 47 people since Friday in the neighboring country.