A 21-year-old Wisconsin rock climber fell to his death while rappelling a national monument in Wyoming.
On Sunday, shortly before 8 p.m., Stewart Phillip Porter from Eau Claire was rappelling the second pitch of El Cracko Diablo on Devils Tower and went careening downward, according to the National Park Service.
He sustained major injuries and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics, the park service said. Porter's partner also was injured in the fall and became stranded but was later rescued from the wall of the Tower.
Porter's family couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt declared Devils Tower as America's first national monument in 1906 . It rises 1,267 feet above Belle Fourche River, 5,112 above sea level, and stands 867 feet from summit to base. The park service said the Tower was formed about 50 million years ago and the erosion that exposed the Tower likely took place between 5 million and 10 million years ago.
Devils Tower Superintendent Doug Crossen told Cowboy State Daily that authorities received a call about the fall around 8 p.m. and two local law enforcement officers responded immediately but knew they'd need assistance from the local climbing community.
“We do not have climbing rangers on duty at this time as their season has ended,” he said. “As soon as we figured out what was going on, we went to the local climbing community.”
Climbers from Devils Tower Lodge Climbing Guides and Buck Wild Climbing Guides responded “quickly and wholeheartedly,” Crossen said. They took the El Cracko Diablo route to rescue Porter’s climbing partner.
“We don’t know what happened yet,” Crossen said, adding the incident is still under investigation.
There have been seven climbing deaths at the Tower in more than a century, according to the park service.
“When something like that happens, it hits pretty hard in the climbing world,” veteran climber Leigh Lassle told Cowboy State Daily. “But it's real. And that’s why a lot of us do it — because it is real.”
Safety tips for climbers
The park service has the following safety tips for climbers visiting Devils Tower:
- Check the local weather forecast before climbing and observe changing weather conditions. Summer days can bring hot temperatures, and the rock of the Tower can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Storm systems develop quickly in the Black Hills. Lightning, rain, hail, slippery surfaces and hypothermia are possible during storms.
- Park in the lower/gravel lot of the visitor center parking lot. This lot provides more shade for cars parked all day and allows short-term visitors more parking in the upper/paved lot.
- Watch for animals (stinging insects, birds, rodents and reptiles all live on the Tower). Temporary route closure due to nesting falcons is typical each spring in order to protect nesting prairie and peregrine falcons. Routes will be reopened when no nesting activity is observed and/or falcons fledge. Check for route closures when you register at the climbing kiosk or visit the Current Climbing Closure page.
- Routes are typically long and sustained in grade. Technical rock climbing equipment is required to safely climb at Devils Tower National Monument. Consult multiple sources for information on a route, as suggested gear varies between guidebooks.
- The majority of climbing accidents and deaths on the Tower occur during the rappel. The park service does not maintain anchors – inspect all anchors and back them up if necessary. Ensure you know the location of your rappel route before you begin. Start rappels over the nose of columns to prevent ropes from jamming in cracks. Avoid knocking loose rock onto climbers below. Many rappels require two ropes; know the distance of your planned rappel before beginning.
- Climbing helmets are strongly recommended due to frequent rock falls. Significant hazards should be reported to a ranger in the climbing office or visitor center.
- In the event of an emergency, remain calm and attempt to call 911 or yell down to the Tower Trail. Assistance from local resources and monument staff may be available, though rescue is not certain.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin rock climber fell to death while rappelling Devils Tower in Wyoming, officials say
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