As the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest is no stranger to peril. But even by its treacherous standards, the events of the first weekend of October 2025 were extraordinary. A powerful blizzard swept through the Chinese side of the mountain, stranding nearly 900 hikers, guides, and support staff at altitudes exceeding 16,000 feet. What followed was one of the largest and most complex rescue operations the region has ever seen, with teams racing against time and the elements to bring everyone to safety.
According to AP and corroborated by Chinese state media, the ordeal began on the night of Saturday, October 4, when a severe snowstorm struck the Everest region in Tibet. The storm, which had started as heavy snowfall on Friday, quickly escalated into a full blizzard by Saturday evening. The timing could hardly have been worse: the area was teeming with visitors celebrating China’s weeklong Golden Week holiday, which marks the anniversary of the start of Communist Party rule on October 1, 1949. With domestic tourism at its peak, hundreds of hikers and more than 300 guides, yak herders, and workers found themselves trapped in tents and makeshift camps high on the slopes.
By the time the snow settled, about 580 hikers and over 300 workers were stranded at altitudes above 4,900 meters (16,000 feet), reported Straight Arrow News. Rescue teams were immediately mobilized, launching a multi-day operation that would test both their endurance and ingenuity. The first breakthrough came by noon on Monday, October 6, when roughly 350 hikers managed to descend to safety. For the remaining hundreds, however, the journey out would be far more complicated.
Rescuers—comprising Chinese and Tibetan officials, firefighters, and local volunteers—used every resource at their disposal. Horses, drones, and even villagers’ oxen were pressed into service to reach those trapped in areas inaccessible by vehicle, as described by Reuters and CCTV News. For some, the way out was made easier by the efforts of those who had gone before. Eric Wen, a 41-year-old survivor, recounted to Reuters, “Thankfully, some people ahead of us were breaking trail, leaving footprints we could follow — that made it a little easier. Otherwise, it would’ve been impossible for us to make it out (of the Karma valley) on our own.” Wen’s group trekked 12 miles through knee-deep snow, a testament to both the severity of the storm and the resilience of the hikers.
Throughout the ordeal, hypothermia was a constant threat. Dozens of climbers rescued from the mountain were suffering from the cold, and rescue teams responded by providing heating, food, medicine, and oxygen supplies. According to the Xinhua News Agency, those flagged with illness were escorted to a meeting point by teams equipped with these lifesaving provisions. In total, about a dozen hikers required special assistance due to hypothermia and other health concerns.
The blizzard’s impact was not limited to Everest. Early-season snowstorms battered several other regions in western China over the same weekend. In the Qilian Mountains of Qinghai province, more than 200 people were evacuated from a remote valley, and tragically, one person died from hypothermia and altitude sickness, as reported by CCTV. In the Xinjiang region, the Kanas scenic area was closed after a snowstorm on Sunday, October 5, stranded motorists on a nearby highway. That road was cleared by Monday, but the incident underscored the widespread nature of the extreme weather.
Back on Everest, the rescue operation continued into Tuesday night, October 7. By then, nearly all those who had been stranded were accounted for and safe. According to AP and Washington Post, about 10 trekkers were still making their way down with the assistance of rescue crews, but officials were confident they would soon reach safety. Access to several popular valleys, including Karma and Rongshar, was suspended while authorities reassessed conditions and worked to prevent further incidents.
The storm also disrupted other expeditions in the Himalayas. In Nepal, a South Korean climber lost his life during a weekend storm near the summit of Mera Peak, a 6,476-meter (21,250-foot) mountain south of Everest. Meanwhile, an expedition led by the U.S.-based Madison Mountaineering group, which aimed to summit Cho Oyu (8,188 meters) on the border between China and Nepal, was also affected, according to Straight Arrow News.
For the Everest region in Tibet, the blizzard was a stark reminder of the mountain’s dangers. The area drew more than 540,000 visitors in 2024, and while tourism brings economic benefits, it also strains local infrastructure and emergency services. The region’s vulnerability to severe weather and its limited resources were laid bare by the events of the past week. In response, the Mount Everest scenic area was temporarily closed, and officials issued warnings against entering undeveloped or high-altitude areas without proper preparation and permission.
Despite the chaos, the rescue operation was widely hailed as a success. The coordinated efforts of local governments, rescue teams, and volunteers ensured that nearly 900 lives were saved from what could have been a much grimmer outcome. As reported by CCTV News, rescue workers even waved goodbye to groups they had saved, a small gesture of relief and camaraderie after days of tension and uncertainty.
With the Golden Week holiday drawing to a close, many travelers are likely to think twice before venturing into the high Himalayas during unpredictable weather. Yet, for those who endured the blizzard, the experience is sure to leave a lasting mark. As Eric Wen and his fellow hikers discovered, survival on Everest often comes down to teamwork, resilience, and a bit of luck—plus, of course, a well-timed rescue operation.
As the snow melts and the mountain trails reopen, the Everest region will no doubt welcome new adventurers. But the events of October 2025 will serve as a powerful reminder: even the most popular tourist destinations can become scenes of sudden danger—and remarkable human endurance—when nature decides to show its force.