China - Tourists Rescued on Mt. Everest - NYTimes.com Chinese rescuers had evacuated by Tuesday morning 86 tourists trapped by heavy snowfall at the north base camp of Mount Everest, at an altitude of 17,000 feet in central Tibet, according to Xinhua, the state news agency. The tourists, all but 13 of them Chinese, had been ready to go to a lower altitude after sightseeing when the storm hit on Monday, Xinhua reported, citing the local government. No casualties were reported on Monday. Without proper acclimatization, severe altitude sickness can occur at 17,000 feet. Unlike the south base camp in Nepal, which is usually reached by trekking, the north base camp draws tourists who often drive up by jeep and visit the nearby Rongbuk Monastery.