Climbing
Updated: 3:09 p.m. October 6, 2025
Hundreds of trekkers stranded by a sudden blizzard on the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet have been rescued after days of heavy snow and freezing temperatures, Chinese state media reported Sunday, October 5. China Central Television (CCTV) said that as of Sunday, more than 350 trekkers had been guided to safety in the small township of Qudang, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Everest base area. Contact has been made with more than 200 others still sheltering higher up the mountain, who are expected to descend in groups under the supervision of rescue teams.
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State-backed Jimu News had earlier reported that roughly 1,000 people, including trekkers, guides, and porters, were trapped in the region after intense snowfall blocked routes and damaged tents. The stranded climbers were located near camps around 4,900 meters (16,000 feet), below the mountain’s north face. “It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk,” said Geshuang Chen, one of 18 trekkers who reached Qudang after what she described as a terrifying night of heavy snow, thunder, and lightning, in an interview with Chinese state media. “The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October.” Chen’s group was welcomed by local villagers offering hot tea and food after what she called “the longest night of my life.”
Eric Wen, another survivor, told Reuters that his group was forced to clear snow from their tents every ten minutes to prevent collapse. “We hardly slept,” he said, describing how two men and a woman suffered hypothermia despite wearing proper gear. His group eventually made it down safely, along with their expedition guides and yak handlers. Rescue efforts have been complicated by continuous snowfall and winds, with local villagers joining emergency workers to clear snow-blocked roads and footpaths.
In the mountains of the neighboring Qinghai province, a hiker died from hypothermia, the CCTV reported on Monday.
The storm has blanketed the Karma Valley, a rarely visited area on the eastern side of Everest known for its alpine forests and proximity to the Kangshung Glacier. The region contrasts sharply with the drier north face, which is usually accessible by paved road and draws large numbers of tourists during October—typically one of the clearest months after the Indian monsoon. Ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended late Saturday, according to local tourism offices.
Across the border in Nepal, the same weather system brought torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides that have killed at least 47 people since Friday. 35 died in the eastern district of Ilam near the Indian border, while several others remain missing.
Mt. Everest has two main climbing windows, one in spring around April-May, and one in fall around September-October, which fall before and after the region’s monsoon season. Typically, spring is the more reliable climbing window, with 13% successful ascent’s to the world’t tallest peak, while fall conditions can be less stable with potentially stronger winds and volatile weather. Each of the two seasons also has limited weather windows that can optimize safety and peak success.
