A climber tragically fell to his death while rappelling down Devils Tower in Wyoming, leaving his partner stranded on the rock formation, the Associated Press reports.
The incident occurred Sunday evening, with park officials confirming the death of 21-year-old Stewart Phillip Porter from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Porter’s climbing partner, left without a rope, was rescued unharmed after calling for help.
The pair had successfully summited Devils Tower and were descending via a route known as El Cracko Diablo when the accident happened. The exact cause of the fall remains under investigation, according to Devils Tower National Monument Superintendent Doug Crossen.
This marks the seventh climbing fatality in the park’s 118-year history. Devils Tower, known for its sheer rock faces and unique geological features, attracts around 6,000 climbers each year.
Standing 870 feet tall and designated the first US national monument in 1906, Devils Tower is a prominent natural landmark and was famously featured in the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
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