Incident Overview
A tragic accident occurred at Devils Tower in Wyoming, where a rock climber fell to his death while rappelling down the iconic geological formation. His climbing partner was left stranded without a rope, prompting a rescue operation on Sunday evening.
Rescue Operation
The stranded climber was rescued unharmed after calling for assistance. According to Devils Tower National Monument Superintendent Doug Crossen, the incident was reported on September 25, 2024. The climber who died, identified as 21-year-old Stewart Phillip Porter from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, marks the seventh fatality in the park’s 118-year history. Each year, approximately 6,000 climbers attempt to scale the tower.
Details of the Climbing Route
Porter and his partner were tackling a relatively easy route known as El Cracko Diablo. They had successfully reached the summit of Devils Tower and were descending when the accident occurred. The exact circumstances surrounding the fall remain unclear, as investigations are ongoing.
About Devils Tower
Standing at nearly 870 feet (265 meters) above the surrounding terrain and located one mile (1.6 kilometers) above sea level, Devils Tower is renowned for its sheer sides and unique geological features. It is the largest known example of columnar jointing, formed from fused pillars of igneous rock as a result of ancient magma activity. Established as the first national monument in 1906, Devils Tower also gained fame through its appearance in the 1977 film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”