Gillette Attorney Dies in Rock Climbing Fall at Devils Tower
A Gillette attorney died in a fall Friday after attempting to climb Devils Tower.
Matthew Sorenson, 39, was a native of Deaver. He graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law and was a member of the Campbell County Library Board as well as the Wyoming State Bar Foundation Board.
According to a press release from Devils Tower National Monument, staff learned of the fall at roughly 2 p.m. Friday. They arrived in the area of the fall to find climbers in the process of lowering Sorenson to the ground.
A doctor accompanying the local ambulance pronounced Sorenson dead. He had been climbing with friends on the Sundance route when he fell from a significant height, suffering major head injuries despite wearing a helmet.
National Park Service law enforcement and the Crook County Medical Examiner's Office continue to investigate the incident. No further details of the fall have been released.
Devils Tower National Monument has not seen a climbing death since 2003.
Two climbing-related closures are in effect at Devils Tower: the annual voluntary June closure, in effect for the entire month, as well as a temporary closure to protect nesting peregrine falcons.
Officials remind all climbers to visit the climbing office or climbing kiosk to check route conditions, information and current closures before registering to climb.