Rescue Operations Underway for Stranded Trekkers Near Everest's Eastern Face

Rescue operations are in progress to evacuate more than 200 trekkers stranded near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet, following unexpected snowstorms that swept across the region. The evacuation, which began on Monday, is expected to be completed by Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the situation. The Tibetan regional government has not yet provided an official comment.

The snowstorms, which began over the weekend, caught hundreds of hikers off guard in the Karma Valley, a remote area at an average altitude of 13,800 feet. On Sunday, rescuers guided approximately 350 stranded hikers to safety. One of the evacuees, Eric Wen, 41, recounted his experience:

"Thankfully, some people ahead of us were breaking trail, leaving footprints we could follow—that made it a little easier. Otherwise, it would've been impossible for us to make it out on our own."

As of Tuesday evening, there has been no official update on the condition of the remaining trekkers, although Chinese state media reported that communication with them has been established. British mountaineer Adriana Brownlee advised that in the event of bad weather, trekkers and climbers should alert local authorities about their exact location and stay in a safe place, such as a shelter, lodge, or tent that is clear of avalanche zones or far from riverbeds. She also emphasized the importance of carrying at least one satellite phone or tracking device.

The Karma Valley, first explored by Western travelers a century ago, remains relatively pristine and is less visited compared to the north face of Everest, which has road access. In 2024, more than 540,000 tourists visited the Everest region, setting a new record.

The recent snowstorm also disrupted the plans of climbers guided by U.S.-based Madison Mountaineering to summit Cho Oyu, the world's sixth-highest peak on China's border with Nepal. Expedition leader Garrett Madison reported that a major storm suddenly developed, dumping over a meter of snow on Everest and the surrounding Himalayan peaks. The team plans to resume their ascent once the weather improves.

In a related incident, one trekker died of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness after being stranded by snowstorms in the Qilian Mountains on the border of China's Qinghai and Gansu provinces. By Tuesday, all 251 hikers in the Qilian area who survived the snowstorms had been rescued, according to China Central Television. Authorities in the Xinjiang region have suspended hiking and camping in the Kanas lake district of the Altai mountains, turning back more than 300 hikers heading for the area. Police patrolling the area on Sunday encountered a group of 16 hikers, one of whom was taken to the hospital with symptoms of hypothermia and is now in stable condition. Highways in the area, previously paralyzed by ice and snow, have since been cleared.