🔗 Share this article Mount Everest Trekkers Describe 'Extreme' Weather as Large-Scale Operation Continues Hikers have recounted facing "harsh" situations after an unexpected blizzard during one of China's most crowded festive periods trapped hundreds of people on Mount Everest, triggering a large-scale rescue effort. Evacuation Efforts In Progress Chinese authorities stated that approximately 350 people had made their way down but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, located to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border. Large groups of visitors had traveled to the region for "Golden Week," an eight-day holiday period in China. However, local officials, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed intense snow had hit the area on Friday and Saturday night, stranding hundreds of people at campsites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet). "It was the most extreme weather I've experienced in all my trekking experiences, undoubtedly," Dong Shuchang said on Weibo, describing a "violent convective blizzard on the eastern slope" of Everest. "Glancing upward in the middle of the night and noticed that the snow had nearly covered the peak," shared another trekker on Xiaohongshu. "It was the first time I truly felt the terror of being buried alive." Personal Accounts 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 remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to go down on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated. "On the way, we encountered our guide's father who had searched for him. It was then we discovered the snow was intense in the lowlands too; villagers, unable to contact their family on the mountain, were extremely worried." The north and east side of Everest is easier to reach than locations on the neighboring side of the border and draws high numbers of tourists for easier hiking, without summiting the peak. Visual Evidence Photos and video posted online showed shelters covered by snow and lines of trekkers moving through deep drifts to get down the mountain. "It was extremely thick, and the trail very slick. Trekkers often slipped – a few tumbled, others were bumped by pack animals," said one, who added 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 base camp of Everest, "in good health," state media reported. At least 200 more remained trapped but had been reached, the reports said. Local news reported that scores of emergency workers had ascended the mountain to help people and clear snow from obstructing the exit route. There was minimal updates or new details about the rescue effort on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the weather had impacted anyone on the northern side of Everest, within the same region. The area is strictly regulated by the Chinese government, and journalistic access is limited. The conditions also appears to have have affected local communications, with calls to local businesses not connecting. Several trekkers reported electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town. Seasonal Context Autumn is a busy period for the area, with typically clear and mild weather, but one trekker, among 18 participants of a trekking group that returned to Qudang, commented that the weather this year was "not normal." "The guide told us he had not experienced conditions like this in the fall. And it happened very abruptly." The local tourism authority said admissions and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from Saturday. Regional Impact Neighbouring countries were affected as well by severe conditions. Torrential downpours caused mudslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and killed at least 47 individuals since the start of the weekend in Nepal.