Climber and influencer Balin Miller, 23, fell to his death on October 2 while solo climbing the Sea of Dreams route on Yosemite’s El Capitan.

According to KTLA and CBS News, Miller had completed the 2,400-foot climb and was hauling gear when a bag stuck. He rappelled down to retrieve it, unaware that his rope was too short. Witnesses say he rappelled off the end of the rope, falling hundreds of feet.

Photographer Tom Evans, who witnessed the fall, wrote: “His rope didn’t reach the bag’s location by many feet, but he seemed unaware of that fact. On the way down, he rappelled off the end of the rope.”

The incident was livestreamed to thousands of followers, many of whom watched in real time as the tragedy unfolded. The National Park Service is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fall.

Here’s what to know about the fatal incident.

Who Was Balin Miller, the Climber Killed in Yosemite?

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Balin Miller began climbing at age 3 with his father. By 12, he was ice climbing in Valdez and along the Seward Highway. Daring solo ascents and a charismatic online presence marked his career. Veteran climbers called him “the new king of the Alaska Range.”

• Slovak Direct on Denali: First solo ascent of the 2,700-meter route, completed in 56 hours in June 2025, according to sportsjone.com.
• Reality Bath (Canadian Rockies): Second-ever ascent of the Grade VII ice climb, soloed in January 2025.
• Soloing Spree in Patagonia: A week-long climb showcasing his endurance and technical skill, according to www.climbing.com
• French Connection on Mount Hunter: First solo choker ascent of the North Buttress route.

Millet once wrote: “Everyone should experience real fear and danger at some point, which is easily done in the mountains. I think it would help people become less stressed over more frivolous problems.”

Family and Friends Mourn Balin Miller’s Death

Miller’s mother, Jeanine Girard-Moorman, confirmed his death in a blog post and Facebook message:

“The mountain took my Balin today — I will never recover. My heart is shattered in a million pieces.” She described him as “a true wild card at heart,” who lived out of a silver Prius and climbed for passion, not fame.

His Brother Dylan Miller Said:

“He said he felt most alive when he was climbing. I’m his bigger brother, but he was my mentor.”

Investigation Focuses on Rope Safety, Climbing Protocols

The National Park Service is investigating the incident. Early reports suggest Miller may not have tied a stopper knot—a safety measure that prevents climbers from rappelling off the end of a rope. While effective, some climbers skip it to avoid snags or delays during ascent.

The fall occurred on the first day of the federal government shutdown, which left Yosemite operating with limited services. Despite this, rangers and emergency personnel responded immediately.

Miller’s death is the third fatality in Yosemite this year, following a free-soloing accident and a hiking death caused by a falling tree branch.

What Is El Capitan?

El Capitan is an iconic granite formation, one of Yosemite’s most prominent features. The mammoth rock wall rises 3,000 feet above a meadow below.

According to the National Park Service’s website, climbers from all over the world come to the park to summit El Capitan.

Alex Honnold, known for his free solo ascents of big walls, was the first to free solo-climb El Capitan in 2017 for his documentary “Free Solo.”

Miller rose to prominence after his solo climb of Slovak Direct, a 9,000-foot climbing route on Mount McKinley in Alaska. The climb took him 56 hours to complete and was posted to Miller’s Instagram page in June.

His death follows two other falling accidents this year. In July, a 29-year-old woman died after climbing a North Carolina waterfall. In June, an 18-year-old man also died after falling over a waterfall in Olympic National Park in Washington.

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USA TODAY contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Social media climbing star Balin Miller dies in fall in Yosemite’s El Capitan
Reporting by James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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