Three college-age hikers spent a long, cold stretch stuck partway down a 500-foot cliff on the West Slabs of Mount Olympus in Salt Lake County before rescuers finally reeled them out of danger overnight, authorities said. The group reportedly worked their way into steep, exposed terrain, got "cliffed out" with no safe way forward or back, then called for help, triggering a multi-team rescue that involved both ground crews and a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter.
How the rescue unfolded
According to ABC4 Utah, two of the hikers ended up stranded on a very narrow ledge roughly partway down the 500-foot face, while a third hiker and a bystander were perched about 60 feet above them. The group had climbed to around 7,400 feet before finally calling 911.
As KSL reported, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue teams responded and requested a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter, while ground crews stood ready to launch a rope rescue if needed. Bystanders lowered a rope to the stranded pair so they had something to hang onto while rescuers organized the extraction, and crews ultimately got everyone off the face during the overnight operation.
Why the West Slabs are treacherous
In a social media warning quoted by KSL, the sheriff's office emphasized that the West Slabs route is not a casual outing: it is technical terrain with serious exposure that calls for a high level of skill. The American Alpine Club's accident reports echo that assessment, documenting recent incidents on the West Slabs and advising climbers to carry an ice axe and know how to self-arrest when snow lingers on the route.
Salt Lake County Search & Rescue members say the surge in popularity of the West Slabs has translated into more call-outs in recent months, a pattern that highlights the need for careful route planning and the right gear. They recommend starting early, packing extra water and a headlamp, and having a clear plan for how to get off any exposed slab terrain before daylight fades.
The team is largely volunteer-based and relies on training and donations to keep answering backcountry calls. Rescuers ask climbers and hikers to respect both the seriousness of the route and the limits of their own group. For more on the incident and the program that responded, see reporting from ABC4 Utah and the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
