Balin Miller, a climbing influencer from Alaska, has tragically died in a fall from El Capitan, the famous granite landmark in Yosemite National Park, California. He was 23 years old.
Miller was broadcasting live on TikTok while climbing a 3,000-foot wall on Wednesday when he tragically fell and died. His mother, Jeanine Girard-Moorman, shared the heartbreaking news in a social media post, saying: “My heart is shattered in a million pieces. I don’t know how I will get through this. I love him so much. I want to wake up from this horrible nightmare.”
Officials haven’t yet determined what caused the accident. Miller’s brother, Dylan, explained that he was climbing alone using a technique called lead rope soloing on a 2,400-foot route called Sea of Dreams. He had finished the climb and was probably descending when he accidentally rappelled off the end of his rope while pulling up his gear. Photographer Tom Evans, who saw the fall, stated that Miller was attempting to free a bag that was stuck before Evans dialed 911. It is important to note that this is based on witness accounts and has not been officially confirmed.
Rising star in climbing
Originally from Anchorage, Miller started climbing with his dad and brother as a child, eventually gaining recognition worldwide. He recently announced on Instagram that he completed the first-ever solo climb of Mount McKinley’s Slovak Direct in just 56 hours, which earned him international acclaim. This impressive accomplishment brought him significant attention from climbers and the media alike.
Honestly, I’ve been super impressed with Miller’s climbing lately. Clint Helander, a really experienced alpinist, told the Anchorage Daily News earlier this year that these last six months have been some of the most impressive climbing he’s seen from anyone. And it’s not just him – another top climber, Mark Westman, actually compared Miller to Alex Honnold, you know, the guy who free soloed El Capitan! It’s high praise, for sure.
Miller was an accomplished climber who had recently finished challenging solo ascents in Patagonia and the Canadian Rockies. One notable climb was Reality Bath, a notoriously difficult ice route that no one had successfully repeated for 37 years. Within the Yosemite climbing community, he was affectionately known as the “Orange Tent Guy” because of his easily recognizable campsite at the bottom of El Capitan.
This is the third death to occur in the park this year. Previously, in June, an 18-year-old climber from Texas died while trying a challenging climb without ropes. Then, in August, a 29-year-old hiker was tragically killed when a falling tree branch hit them.
The passing of Balin happened shortly after a climber from China died in a fall while attempting to take a selfie near a cliff’s edge.
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2025-10-03 19:19