An Alaskan climbing influencer has died after falling from El Capitan, a famous vertical rock formation in California’s Yosemite National Park.
Balin Miller, 23, was live-streamed on TikTok ascending and subsequently falling from the monolith on Wednesday.
In an emotional social media post confirming her son’s death, his mother Jeanine Girard-Moorman said: “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.”
Details of what caused the incident are not clear, but Miller’s brother Dylan told AFP he was lead rope soloing - a technique that enables climbing alone while still protected by a rope - on a 2,400ft (730m) route named Sea of Dreams.
The article I read said he had a bag stuck then went to rappel down to it to unstick the bag but his rope didn’t reach all the way to the bag and he just rappelled off the end of his line on his way to the bag
Always put a safety knot at the end of the rope… 😢
I will never understand the appeal of such dangerous hobbies.
Roller coasters are pretty thrilling and dont come with the risk of death (typically).
I like being alive more than I need some thrills.
Honestly, it could be some kind of hormonal imbalance.
