What started as a canyoneering outing at Red Rock Canyon turned into a helicopter hoist on Friday morning, when two people found themselves stuck partway up a canyon wall after their ropes jammed, authorities said. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search & Rescue crews flew into the First Creek area, hoisted both from the cliff, and returned them to the trailhead. Neither person was hurt, and both were walked back to their vehicles.
Rescue unfolded after missed return
According to FOX5 Las Vegas, the alarm was raised by a friend out of state who noticed the hikers hadn’t returned on time. Initial attempts to reach them failed until rescuers connected with one by text. The pair had been running the canyoneering route known as “Old Bill” when their ropes jammed, leaving them stranded. LVMPD Search & Rescue used a helicopter hoist to pull both climbers off the wall Friday morning.
Old Bill is a long, technical descent
Route guides such as BlueGnome describe Old Bill as a full-day, technical canyon that demands multiple long rappels and careful rope work. That kind of terrain raises the odds of snagged ropes or aging webbing. In tight slots and on lengthy drops, a single stuck line or compromised anchor can shut down a party’s exit and quickly turn a routine descent into a complicated recovery operation.
How LVMPD reaches stuck parties
The Las Vegas Metro Air Support and Search & Rescue teams keep hoist-capable helicopters and trained hoist operators on tap for exactly this kind of terrain, according to LVMPD. That aerial setup lets crews insert rescuers where ground teams would struggle to get in and then lift stranded climbers out with a hoist. The aviation unit is a regular fixture in rescues across Clark County’s steep and rocky backcountry.
Safety takeaways for canyoneers
The Bureau of Land Management, which oversees Red Rock Canyon, encourages visitors to stick to established routes, share their plans with someone at home and carry gear appropriate for the objectives they have in mind. The agency also offers voluntary hiker registration and late-exit permits for longer, one-way outings, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Friday’s hoist rescue serves as a reminder to double-check anchors and webbing, bring enough rope and pull cords for the full route, and plan any vehicle shuttles so no one is left without a safe way back.
FOX5 Las Vegas reported the incident at First Creek, and LVMPD said both climbers were flown out to the trailhead, escorted back to their cars, and released without injuries.
