Everest North Face Terror: 1,000 Climbers Stranded by Sudden Blizzard

A violent blizzard struck the Tibetan side of Mount Everest on Sunday, trapping nearly 1,000 climbers and tourists on the mountain’s north routes. So far, 350 people have been escorted to safety in the nearby town of Kodang and officials are in contact with the remainder as rescue teams race to clear snow-blocked paths.

An unseasonal October snowstorm has created a life-or-death scenario high on Everest’s north face. Knee-deep snow, driving winds and plummeting temperatures—unheard-of in autumn—left hundreds stranded in remote camps above 4,200 meters (13,800 ft).

Details & Context

Early Friday evening, heavy snow began pounding the Everest East Ridge—known locally as Mount Chomolungma. Normally clear in post-monsoon October, the skies darkened rapidly, dumping over 50 cm of fresh snow within 24 hours.

· Blizzard Onset

o Starting Friday evening, heavy snowfall began on Everest’s East Ridge, locally called Mount Chomolungma, dumping over 50 cm of snow in 24 hours.

o The normally clear post-monsoon skies turned ominous, forcing trekkers to halt progress amid fierce winds.

· Stranded Group

o 1,000 trekkers and climbers were caught between high camps and Everest Base Camp North.

o 350 rescued: Evacuated to Kodang (3,800 m) via cleared trails.

o 200+ in contact: Rescue teams maintain radio links, coordinating phased evacuations.

· Local Efforts

o Villagers and Tibetan rescue crews use snowplows and shovels to reopen the main route.

o Helicopter rescues are on standby pending improved weather windows.

Quotes

· “Hypothermia risk was real—it felt like mid-winter,” said one British trekker to @Reuters. “My guide admitted he’d never seen such a fierce October storm.”

· A Tibetan Mountaineering Association official stated, “Rescuers are working nonstop to ensure no one is left behind.”

Additional Information

· Golden Week Surge: The storm struck during China’s eight-day national holiday, when Everest’s north side is busiest.

· Regional Downpours: Simultaneous heavy rains in Nepal and India’s Sikkim and West Bengal triggered landslides and flash floods, causing dozens of deaths and injuries.

· Accessible Route: Tibet’s paved road to Kodang makes the north approach popular despite higher altitude risks.

Impact Analysis

The economic fallout could be substantial: Everest tourism generates $50 million annually for Tibet’s Shigatse region. Prolonged closures risk cancellations, lodging losses and guide income decline.

Safety protocols face scrutiny. This storm—the worst October snowfall in 15 years—raises questions about climate change’s impact on Himalayan weather unpredictability. Trek operators may need to revise seasonal windows and emergency preparedness.

Conclusion

The sudden Everest north-face blizzard underscores the perils of high-altitude tourism and climate-driven weather extremes. While rescue efforts progress, authorities must strengthen early-warning systems and enforce stricter seasonal safety guidelines for trekkers.

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