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Alaskan Climber Balin Miller Dies in Fall from Yosemite’s El Capitan
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – Balin Miller, a 23-year-old Alaskan climber, died Wednesday after falling from El Capitan, the iconic granite monolith in Yosemite National Park. The incident reportedly occurred during a livestream and is currently under investigation.
Miller’s mother, Jeanine Girard-Moorman, shared the tragic news in a social media post, stating, “It is with a heavy heart I have to tell you my incredible son Balin Miller died during a climbing accident today. My heart is shattered in a million pieces.” She later told Fox News Digital that her son, despite gaining international attention for his climbing, “would be disappointed to be thought of as an influencer.”
“He was talented beyond his years in the climbing world. He was an amazing athlete, smart, bold. He had a very unique and well loved sense of humor,” Girard-Moorman added, emphasizing his passion for climbing and living freely.
According to Miller’s older brother, Dylan, the climber was lead rope soloing – a method of climbing alone with rope protection – on the 2,400-foot “Sea of Dreams” route. While he reportedly completed the ascent, he is believed to have fallen while attempting to haul his gear, likely rappelling off the end of his rope.
Viewers who witnessed the event on a TikTok livestream have shared their shock and tributes. One viewer, Michelle Derrick, posted on social media, “He made it to the summit but he had to retrieve his bags as they got stuck on a rock as he was hoisting them up. As he was trying to retrieve the bags he fell to his death all caught on the livestream.”
The accident unfolded on the first day of a federal government shutdown, which left national parks generally open but with limited operations. The National Park Service confirmed that “park rangers and emergency personnel responded immediately.” The official cause of the fall remains under investigation.
El Capitan, soaring approximately 3,000 feet, is recognized globally as one of the most challenging climbing walls. Miller was an accomplished alpinist, having recently completed a solo ascent of Mount McKinley’s Slovak Direct in Alaska, a technically demanding route he finished in 56 hours.