800 Everest trekkers, guides, porters rescued in China after being stranded by blizzard
Snow that crushed climbers’ tents and cut off all descent routes from the base camp
A further dozen hikers, helped by rescue personnel sent from Tingri county, had reached a rendezvous point on the descent, the report said.
The trekkers were stranded when a rare blizzard struck the trekkers’ camps in the remote Gama Valley, which is home to the largest and best-preserved primeval forest in the Everest area and lies between Tingri and Dinggye counties.
The eastern face of Mount Everest, known in China as Qomolangma, can be seen after trekking around 40km (25 miles) from Gama Valley. However, only yaks and mules can be used to transport supplies on this route, with a round trip taking about 10 days to complete.
‘It was extremely difficult’: rescued trekker recounts dangerous journey on Everest
According to the Chengdu-based National Business Daily, the climbers’ tents were crushed and over a metre (3.2 feet) of snow accumulated at the camps, cutting off all descent routes.