A powerful blizzard has swept the Himalayas, leaving hundreds of hikers stranded on Mount Everest. Snowfall began on Friday evening, October 3, and continued until Saturday, October 4. Many hikers were caught in the storm but have since been guided to safety by Chinese rescuers. However, over 200 remain stranded in the snow.
Rescue Teams Deployed
On Sunday, the Chinese state media reported that approximately 1,000 hikers were stranded due to a sudden blizzard on the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet. According to Reuters, most have been guided to safety, including 350 hikers who reached the small township of Qudang. But over 200 are still on the mountain.
The hikers who made it to Quadang were greeted with hot soup in a communal hall. Among them was Chen Geshuang, a 28-year-old astrophotographer, who described the conditions her 18-strong trekking team had to endure on Mount Everest. “It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk,” she said. “The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly.”
Geshuang’s team recovered with their hot soup and tea as the heavy snowfall continued, accompanied by thunder and lightning. “Back in the village, we had a meal and were finally warm,” she said. Since 1,000 people were trapped, hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams were deployed to help remove the snow that was blocking access to the area.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), the local government organized rescue assistance to help the remaining hikers get to Quadang in stages. They have not commented on whether all the rescuers and villagers are accounted for.
More Hikers Recovered
The snowfall began Friday evening in the valley at an elevation averaging almost 14,000 feet. Another survivor of the blizzard, Eric Wen, said, “It was raining and snowing every day, and we did not see Everest at all.” His hiking group of 18 decided Saturday night to go back since the snowfall continued and became alarming. “We only had a few tents. More than 10 of us were in the large tent and hardly slept,” Wen told Reuters. He said they had to clear the snow every 10 minutes or else their tents would have collapsed on them.
Most of Wen’s group got out of the blizzard unscathed, with eight expedition guides and several other individuals who tended the yaks that were transporting their equipment. However, two men and a woman suffered hypothermia once the temperature dropped below freezing, despite their proper attire.
Peak Season to Visit Mount Everest
Mount Everest reaches the highest elevation above sea level in the world. It is located in the Himalayas between Nepal and Tibet, reaching almost 30,000 feet above sea level. According to National Geographic, hundreds of hikers from 49 countries scaled the mountain this year.
Last week, China observed its eight-day National Day Golden Week holiday, which included the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Visitation to Mount Everest is at its peak season in October because it typically offers clear skies, which is why the storm caught visitors off guard.
The holidays are known to draw hundreds of hikers each year who head to the mountains. According to Reuters, hundreds of visitors are staying in the remote valley of Karma, which leads to the east face of Mount Everest. Once the storm began Saturday evening, ticket sales and entry were halted.
An incident of this nature can be unforeseen, especially when the weather pattern is different than in years past. Thankfully, rescue teams are still working to retrieve the remaining hikers, and no casualties have been reported thus far.
