Rescue Efforts Underway After Unexpected Snowstorm Traps Hikers on Mount Everest and beyond
A sudden and severe snowstorm has impacted Mount Everest and surrounding regions, catching approximately 1,000 hikers off guard, particularly on the mountain’s eastern flank. Rescue operations are ongoing, with at least 350 hikers already brought to safety by local villagers from nearby Tibetan communities.
Rescuers reached those stranded in tent camps, navigating waist-deep snow with the assistance of highland cattle to clear paths. The evacuation route involved crossing a 5,300-meter high pass. Reports indicate many hikers were inadequately prepared for the conditions, lacking sufficient water-repellent clothing. The timing of the storm coincided with national holidays in China, making Tibet a popular travel destination despite October typically being considered a stable weather month. One rescued hiker described the snowstorm as unprecedented in their experience on Mount Everest.
Extreme mountaineer Billi Bierling,based in Kathmandu,Nepal,noted the hikers appeared ill-equipped based on available images,potentially due to the accessibility of Mount Everest base camp via jeep in Tibet.
The impact of the storm extends beyond Everest. Bierling emphasized that numerous villages and local residents were also isolated by the heavy snowfall, often overlooked in the focus on the mountain. Tragically, the snowfall has already claimed at least one life: a South Korean mountaineer died in a storm while climbing a Himalayan peak south of Mount Everest.
Further west,in China’s Qinghai Province,251 people have been rescued following heavy snowfall in mountainous areas. Authorities report one fatality in Qinghai, attributed to hypothermia and altitude sickness. Multiple groups of hikers were caught off guard in the Qilian Mountains, prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving emergency services from several provinces.
Bierling points to a shift in weather patterns on Mount Everest, noting that early October historically offered stable conditions. A similar weather break occurred last year, and a cyclone was forecast in nepal.She also expressed concern that the simplification of mountain tours on social media may lead to hikers underestimating the inherent dangers,a trend observed not only on Everest but also on mountains worldwide,citing the Zugspitze in Germany as an example.
Bierling manages the Himalayan Database in Kathmandu, an archive documenting the history of expeditions on Mount Everest and the growing consequences of increased mountain tourism.
