Who Climbed Devils Tower First?

Who was the first person to see the top of Devils Tower in Wyoming?

Besides early humans that might or might not have been lifted up by Aliens.

There are no stories or other records of American Indians climbing to the top. So we just do not know about that.

In 1890, a local rancher named Bill Rogers boasted to his brother-in-law, "I'll be on top of the Tower before three years."

In 1893, the two men were attempting to fly a large kite over the top of the Tower. They had tied a rope to the kite with the idea of laying over the top and down the other side.

But the kite became stuck in one of the Tower's cracks. That gave them an idea.

Their method was unusual by today's standards.

They built a ladder by driving wooden pegs into the larger crack in the tower.

Would you have the nerve to try something like that?

The ascent was a public event, with about 800 spectators watching.

Rogers planted an American flag at the summit to mark the achievement.

The ladder they built is still a testament to their adventurous spirit and remains visible on the tower.

Later, on June 28, 1937, Fritz Wiessner, Lawrence Coveney, and William P. House achieved the first technical climbing ascent, using traditional climbing techniques.

These days, there are climbers on the tower almost every day.

In its 118-year history of climbing, the park service has recorded only seven deaths, or less than one death every 10 years on average.

This figure is very low considering approximately 6,000 people attempt to climb the formation each year.

The National Park Service (NPS) notes that fatalities, when they occur, are often associated with rappelling accidents.