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Hikers have recounted facing "extreme" situations after an unseasonable blizzard during one of China's most crowded holiday weekends trapped numerous of individuals on Mount Everest, triggering a large-scale rescue effort.

Rescue Operations Underway

Officials in China stated that around 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the east of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Crowds of visitors had journeyed to the area for "Golden Week," an week-long holiday period in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed heavy snowfall had hit the area on Friday and Saturday night, stranding numerous of people at campsites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"This was the most extreme weather I've experienced in all my trekking experiences, without question," a Chinese trekker stated on social media, describing a "intense snowstorm on the east face" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and noticed that the accumulation had almost covered the peak," said a hiker on Xiaohongshu. "It was the first time I genuinely experienced the fear of being engulfed by snow."

Personal Accounts

One Chinese trekker mentioned their group had been "too frightened to sleep" on that night as snow rapidly built up around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on the next day as the weather worsened.

"On the way, we met our guide's father who had searched for him. That's when we discovered the snow was heavy in the valley as well; locals, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The northern and eastern side of Everest is more accessible than sites on the neighboring side of the border and draws high numbers of tourists for easier hiking, without summiting the peak.

Online Documentation

Images and footage posted online showed shelters buried in snow and rows of trekkers moving through waist-high snowbanks to descend the mountain.

"It was extremely thick, and the path very slick. Trekkers stumbled frequently – some fell, some were jostled by pack animals," said one, who added that everyone made it down and were transported by bus.

Current Status

By Sunday afternoon, about 350 people had reached Qudang, a small town roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibetan starting point of Everest, "in good health," state media reported.

No fewer than 200 more were still stranded but had been contacted, the updates indicated. Media outlets stated that scores of emergency workers had ascended the mountain to assist those trapped and clear snow from blocking the exit route.

Officials provided minimal updates or new details about the rescue effort on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the weather had affected individuals on the north face of Everest, within the same region. The area is strictly regulated by the authorities, and journalistic access is restricted. The weather also seemed to have disrupted local communications, with calls to local businesses not connecting. Several trekkers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they arrived.

Weather Patterns

October is a peak season for the region, with usually clear and mild weather, but Chen Geshuang, among 18 participants of a hiking party that returned to Qudang, commented that the climate this year was "unusual."

"The guide told us he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened very abruptly."

The local tourism authority said ticket sales and access to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from Saturday.

Broader Effects

Adjacent nations were affected as well by severe conditions. Torrential downpours triggered landslides and flash floods that have closed routes, destroyed crossings, and killed at least 47 people since the start of the weekend in Nepal.