Hundreds of hikers rescued after blizzard traps them on Mount Everest’s Tibetan slopes

Okay, so things got pretty crazy on Everest recently. A huge blizzard hit the Tibetan side of the mountain, and almost 900 of us – hikers and climbers – were stuck in our camps. Thankfully, rescuers managed to get hundreds of us off the mountain. It was a really scary situation, but it sounds like most people are safe now.

An unexpected snowstorm struck on October 3rd, during China’s Golden Week holiday, catching hikers, guides, and yak herders off guard in the valley approaching the east side of Mount Everest.

BBC News reported that a group was left stranded at an altitude of over 16,000 feet. By Sunday, October 5th, about 350 hikers had arrived in the town of Qudang, and the remaining trekkers were safely down the mountain by Tuesday, October 7th, according to state media.

Some showed signs of hypothermia

During the storm, several people in the group showed signs of hypothermia as the temperature dropped sharply.

Hikers reported extremely heavy snowfall over the weekend. One hiker told The Guardian they had to clear snow from their tents every 90 minutes on Saturday night. Another hiker, Chen Geshuang, told BBC News that the snow was around three feet deep as they hiked down on Sunday.

We’re all experienced hikers,” she explained, “but this blizzard was incredibly challenging. I feel very fortunate to have made it out safely.”

Mount Everest’s eastern side is a favorite among hikers, and its north face is easily accessible for tourists thanks to roads. October is a particularly busy time to visit because the weather is usually calm and clear. In 2024, over 540,000 people visited the Everest area, according to The New York Times.

I was so relieved to hear about the rescue efforts! It’s heartbreaking to see what’s happening in Nepal right now – they’ve been hit with terrible weather. All the heavy rain has caused landslides and flash floods, and reports say at least 47 people have sadly lost their lives. It’s just awful.

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2025-10-08 23:21