Rescuers rappel into Mullen Creek to reach two at Falls Overlook

A 911 text from the Falls Overlook area on Forest Service Road 307 sent Albany County crews into steep ground west of Laramie Thursday evening, where rescuers rappelled about 30 feet into Mullen Creek to reach 56-year-old Michael Werkeiser after reports that he was unconscious and having trouble breathing.

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office later said additional water-rescue resources were requested after deputies reached the scene. Crews from the sheriff’s office High Angle Rescue Team, Albany County Search and Rescue, the Laramie Fire Department and the Centennial Volunteer Fire Department all responded, turning the call into a coordinated technical rescue in rugged terrain.

Deputies learned Werkeiser had slipped while descending steep terrain into a narrow crevice and fallen into the creek. The sheriff’s office extended condolences to his family and friends after the operation, which had to balance rope work, moving water and the limited room for ground access in the Snowy Range foothills.

The response underscored why Falls Overlook can become dangerous quickly. The overlook sits in remote mountain country with steep drop-offs and drainage hazards, and the area’s access can be complicated by weather, fading daylight and seasonal road conditions. The Snowy Range Scenic Byway is seasonally closed from mid-November through Memorial Day, and it is not plowed beyond Green Rock Trailhead during winter closures.

The call also highlighted how Albany County’s emergency system handles backcountry incidents. Laramie’s Emergency Communication Center is the county’s only public safety answering point and operates around the clock, with Text-to-911 available for sheriff’s office, fire and rescue calls. Statewide, Wyoming received 682 texts to 9-1-1 across six counties in 2021, a reminder that text dispatch can be a critical link when voice service is unreliable or a caller cannot talk.

Albany County Search and Rescue says its High Angle / Ropes Team practices throughout the year to maintain skills. The volunteer unit operates under the authority of the sheriff and provides services free of charge. Founded in February 1952 after a series of tragic events in Albany County, the organization reported 15 callouts in 2025 and a roster of 61 searchers on call, along with expanded drone-search capability and high-angle training.

For Albany County residents and visitors, the rescue at Falls Overlook was a stark example of how fast a scenic stop can become a life-threatening emergency in the county’s western mountains.