A major, out-of-season snowstorm has impacted the region of Mount Everest. The consequence is that, for one of China’s busiest holiday weekends, hundreds of trekkers are stranded. The snowstorm delivered a heavy catch to the eastern slope of the mountain over Friday and Saturday night. In the face of their disregard, local governments initiated an unprecedented grassroots rescue operation.
As the storm rolled in, it caught the majority of these trekkers at heights over 4,900 meters (16,000 feet). According to reports, roughly 200 people remain trapped in the Mount Everest Scenic Area. In the meantime, nearly 350 trekkers have safely made it to Qudang, a small town about 30 miles from the Tibet-side base camp of Mount Everest. Fortunately, those who were able to make it to safety said that they were “in good health.”
Dong Shuchang, a Chinese trekker who lived through the storm, called the conditions unlike anything he had ever seen.
“It was the most extreme weather I’ve ever faced in all my hiking experiences, without question.” – Dong Shuchang
This latest snowstorm has put even more fear into the hearts of trekkers and their loved ones. An anonymous AT long-distance trekker had a bit of a horror movie moment in the dead of night. They stepped out and looked up to find that the snow had almost completely covered the top of their tent. One US trekker described meeting their guide’s father, who had come out to look for his son. This reporter observed that villagers were anxious because they were unable to reach their family members on the mountain.
In response to the immediacy of the crisis, the local tourism authority moved quickly. Effective Saturday, they stopped selling tickets altogether and closed access to the Mount Everest Scenic Area. This judgment was to preclude any additional entries into the area so that rescue efforts could continue.
October typically is peak season for climbing in the Greater-Tibet Mount Everest region, known for its clear skies and mild autumn weather. This year has been anything but ordinary. Chen Geshuang, one of the 18-member trekking group, said that the weather this October was “abnormal.” Their guide had never experienced such extreme weather this time of year.
The trekking party’s most important decision came on Sunday when conditions began to deteriorate rapidly and they decided to turn around and descend. And Chen added that the quickness of this seasonal change really took everyone off guard.
“The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly.” – Chen Geshuang
On-the-ground trekkers have documented some hair-raising conditions on the trails, including deep snow and ice slicks. An anonymous trekker described how hikers frequently stumbled, with some experiencing falls or being bumped by yaks navigating the difficult terrain.
Chinese authorities closely monitor all activity in the heavily regulated, locked-down Tibetan Autonomous Region. Access for journalists is tightly controlled in this hot spot. As recovery efforts shift to response, officials are doing all they can to make sure everyone still missed or stranded needs come home safely.