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Hikers have recounted facing "harsh" conditions after an unseasonable blizzard during one of China's busiest holiday weekends trapped hundreds of people on Mount Everest, sparking a large-scale rescue operation.

Rescue Operations In Progress

Chinese authorities stated that approximately 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the east of the mountain, on the Tibet side of the border.

Crowds of visitors had journeyed to the region for "Golden Week," an eight-day festive break in China. However, Chinese authorities, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said heavy snowfall had hit the area on the weekend, stranding numerous of individuals at campsites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the harshest conditions I've ever faced in all my hiking experiences, without question," a Chinese trekker said on Weibo, detailing a "intense snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"I looked up in the middle of the night and noticed that the snow had almost covered the peak," said a hiker on Xiaohongshu. "That was the first time I truly felt the terror of being engulfed by snow."

Eyewitness Reports

One Chinese trekker mentioned their party had been "too frightened to sleep" on Saturday as accumulation quickly piled up around their shelters, forcing them to clear it hourly. They decided to go down on the next day as the weather worsened.

"On the way, we encountered our guide’s parent who had searched for him. It was then we discovered the snow was heavy in the lowlands as well; locals, unable to reach their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The north and east side of Everest is easier to reach than sites on the neighboring side of the border and attracts high numbers of visitors for less technical hiking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Visual Evidence

Photos and video shared on the internet depicted shelters buried in snow and lines of hikers moving through deep snowbanks to get down the mountain.

"The snow was very deep, and the trail very slick. Hikers stumbled frequently – a few tumbled, others were bumped by pack animals," noted a trekker, who clarified that everyone made it down and were picked up by bus.

Current Status

By the weekend, about 350 people had arrived in Qudang, a small town about 30 miles away from the Tibetan base camp of Everest, "in good health," state media reported.

At least 200 more were still stranded but had been reached, the reports indicated. Media outlets reported that scores of rescuers had ascended the mountain to assist those trapped and remove accumulation from blocking the way out.

There was minimal updates or new details about the operation on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the weather had impacted individuals on the northern side of Everest, also in Tibet. The area is strictly regulated by the authorities, and media entry is limited. The weather also seemed to have disrupted local communications, with calls to local businesses not connecting. A number of hikers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they arrived.

Weather Patterns

October is a peak season for the region, with usually calm and pleasant weather, but Chen Geshuang, among 18 members of a trekking group that made it back to Qudang, commented that the climate this year was "unusual."

"Our leader said he had never encountered conditions like this in October. And it happened very abruptly."

The regional travel department said admissions and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from Saturday.

Broader Effects

Adjacent nations were affected as well by severe conditions. Heavy rains caused mudslides and sudden flooding that have closed routes, destroyed crossings, and claimed the lives of at least 47 individuals since the start of the weekend in Nepal.