WASHINGTON COUNTY — A Nellis Air Force military helicopter helped spot three hikers Tuesday who were stranded overnight on snowy Pine Valley Mountain.
The men, equipped with overnight camping and hiking gear — in addition to a cell phone and GPS unit — lost the trail they were hiking after a storm moved in Monday.
They were found about 3 p.m. Tuesday in good health and were flown off the mountain to the search and rescue command center, where they were reunited with their families.
Members of the Washington County Search and Rescue team were joined Monday by a local helicopter to locate the hikers. Later in the day, Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada sent an Apache helicopter to assist in the rescue.
Despite several attempts made by the Nellis crew late into the night, heavy snowfall and poor visibility hampered the rescue attempt, said Washington County Sheriff's Lt. Jake Adams.