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UTAH COUNTY -- Three climbers returned home safely after spending nearly seven hours in the dark, stranded on a cliff in American Fork Canyon.
The men, all in their 20s, were climbing just below Timpanogos Cave around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. On their way down, they tried to take a shortcut. They ended up in a ravine that they could not get out of. It led to a cliff. Their ropes were not long enough for the descent.
Sgt. Tom Hodgson of the Utah County Sheriff's Office said, "They stopped and purchased a 75-foot rope earlier in the day. They cut that rope into three pieces, so all they had was 25-foot ropes."
They called for help using a cell phone.
Rescue teams were finally able to reach them after seven hours and helped them down.
All three went home in good condition.
