Early Friday morning, Las Vegas search-and-rescue crews pulled off a textbook cliffside save, airlifting four hikers who had become stranded on a cliff band near Echo Wall on Mount Charleston after wandering off the trail while trying to find their way down. Las Vegas police said the group was located around 5 a.m. with no overnight gear, minimal food and water, and just a single flashlight between them. Rescuers used a helicopter hoist to move the hikers into hot seats and lift them to safety, and none of the four were injured.
According to News 3 Las Vegas, the department’s AIR1 helicopter first located the stranded party, then an SR7 crew was lowered in by hoist to reach them on the exposed rock. Crews carried out several hoist evolutions to get everyone off the cliff and flew them to the U.S. Forest Service helipad, where ground teams took over. The station reports the call for help came in late Thursday night after the hikers became “ledged-out” while descending near Echo Wall.
Air Support and SAR at work
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Air Support and Search-and-Rescue units are built for exactly this kind of call, pairing trained hoist operators with seasoned volunteer mountain teams. As outlined by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the unit flies daily and logged dozens of helicopter search-and-rescue missions last year. That mix of aircraft, skilled crews and volunteer lead-climb teams is what allowed responders to reach the cliff band quickly and get everyone out without injuries.
Why Mount Charleston can be hazardous
Mount Charleston rises above 6,000 feet, with steep approaches and exposed cliffs that can catch hikers off guard if they stray from marked routes, officials say. The mountain’s visitor site advises checking current conditions, carrying extra water and layers, and remembering that cell reception is spotty at best. Those reminders match local reporting that has noted several recent rescues in the area. For more, see the Go Mt. Charleston safety tips and coverage of a nighttime rescue earlier this month.
How to avoid needing a hoist
Local rescuers urge hikers to leave a trip plan with someone at home, pack a headlamp, bring extra food and water, and stick to signed trails to avoid getting “ledged-out” on cliffs. As noted by LVMPD Search and Rescue, volunteers are on call around the clock and train specifically for technical mountain extractions. If you do become stranded, officials say to call 911 and let trained crews come to you rather than attempting a risky self-rescue…