Alaskan Climbing Star Balin Miller Killed in Tragic El Capitan Fall; Incident Reported on TikTok
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA: Balian Miller, the highly accomplished 23-year-old Alaskan alpinist, died Wednesday after falling near the summit of El Capitan, the 3,000-foot granite monolith in Yosemite National Park.
The accident, which occurred on the Sea of Dreams route, was reportedly witnessed by some followers via a social media livestream.
Miller’s mother, Jeanine Girard-Moorman, confirmed his death on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
Fatal Fall Details Under Investigation
Miller was attempting a lead rope solo on the 2,400-foot Sea of Dreams route, a technique that allows a climber to ascend alone while protected by a safety rope.
According to accounts from both Miller’s family and a Yosemite-based photographer who witnessed the event, the fall occurred after the main climb was finished.
The known circumstances leading to the tragedy include:
- Miller successfully completed the ascent of the Sea of Dreams route.
- He began hauling his gear bags up the final section, but one bag became stuck.
- Miller then began to rappel down his lead line to free the stuck bag.
- Witnesses suggest Miller did not realise his rope did not extend far enough, and he rappelled off the end of the line, falling to his death.
Photographer Tom Evans, who was nearby and followed Miller's progress, posted on social media that the climber had "finished his climb of the Sea of Dreams, on ElCap, and was hauling his bag up the last pitch when it became stuck.”
Evans added that Miller went down his line to clear the bag, but the "rope didn't reach the bags location by many feet, but he seemed unaware of that fact. On the way down, he rappelled off the end of the rope" as reported by People.
The National Park Service confirmed a climber died at El Capitan.
 |
| El Capitan: a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, California |
In a statement, the park service said the incident remains under investigation, adding that "park rangers and emergency personnel responded immediately" as reported by The Washington Post.
Family and Climbers Pay Tribute
Balin Miller’s death sent shockwaves through the international climbing community. He was affectionately known as the "Orange Tent Guy" by fans who followed his progress, which he often documented on social media.
His mother, Jeanine Girard-Moorman, shared her grief, stating:
"It is with a heavy heart I have to tell you my incredible son Balin Miller died during a climbing accident today".
She also described the pain to the Associated Press, saying:
"He loved to climb and it was never about money and fame."
Miller’s older brother, Dylan Miller, reflected on the intensity of his sibling’s passion for the sport. "He said he felt most alive when he was climbing," Dylan told the Associated Press, continuing:
"I'm his bigger brother but he was my mentor."
Veteran alpinist Clint Helander told the Anchorage Daily News that Miller’s recent accomplishments were extraordinary, commenting:
"He's had probably one of the most impressive last six months of climbing of anyone I can think of".
A Legacy of Daring Solo Ascents
Miller, who grew up climbing in Alaska, was already regarded as one of America’s most promising young alpinists, despite only being 23 years old. He had completed a series of bold, solo climbs across the world in the months preceding his death.
His notable accomplishments include:
- Completing what is believed to be the first solo ascent of Mount McKinley's Slovak Direct route in Alaska. The technically difficult climb took him 56 hours.
- Achieving the second known solo ascent of Reality Bath, a challenging ice climb on White Pyramid in the Canadian Rockies. This route had gone unrepeated for 37 years.
- Spending weeks performing solo climbs in both Patagonia and the Canadian Rockies.
Miller’s death marks the third fatality in Yosemite National Park this summer, according to the Associated Press, and occurred on the first day of a federal government shutdown, which left some park operations limited.
Rappelling accidents are a known risk in the climbing world; the American Alpine Club recorded eight such fatalities in 2023.
