
In an operation that proved Christmas can be as perilous as it is festive, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue (LVMPDSAR) came to the aid of two climbers stranded in Pine Creek. The rescue, which unfolded on Christmas morning, was detailed on the team's social media channels. The climbers found themselves in a precarious position on Olive Oil, a renowned route in the Red Rock Canyon area, as a storm swept in on Christmas Eve, making their descent untenable and leaving them stuck on the cliff face overnight.
The turbulent weather conditions, with high winds lashing through the canyon, meant that the SAR team had to delay the operation—despite the urgency—the stranded climbers had to endure a long and no doubt harrowing night exposed to the elements. As the storm cleared in the early hours of Christmas day, rescue personnel aboard AIR1 skillfully navigated improved weather conditions to safely reach the climbers. According to the LVMPDSAR's Instagram post, "This morning, the weather improved and AIR1 was able to fly in and insert a single SAR Officer," which then facilitated the safe extraction of the climbers.
SAR's quick response ensured that the two climbers were safely rescued from a rocky spot. They were flown to the BLM Fire station helipad without sustaining any injuries.