Record-breaking climber dies in California accident at 30

Record-breaking climber Jake Whisenant, 30, died in a climbing accident in California's Sierra Nevada on August 3. The National Park Service confirmed personnel responded to a "climbing-related incident" in the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness on August 2, leading to a two-day search and rescue operation.

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personnel responded to a climbing-related incident in the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness on Aug. 2.

Rangers found Whisenant deceased and transferred his body to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, which listed the cause of death as "accident." Whisenant, of Mammoth Lakes, California, was known for setting a speed record on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park with Brant Hysell in October 2024, completing the ascent in two hours, 55 minutes, and 32 seconds.

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Search and rescue and recovery operations were conducted over a two-day period. Climber Jacob Whisenant was found deceased by rangers and was transferred to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

His friend Bailee Moore confirmed his passing on Facebook, stating, "Our family is absolutely devastated by this news but find solace in the fact that Jake died doing what he loves in the beautiful Sierra Nevada." She also created a GoFundMe to honor his life and support his fiancé, Emma. The campaign aims to create memorials in places Whisenant loved and has raised over $1,900 of its $3,000 goal.

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Our family is absolutely devastated by this news but find solace in the fact that Jake died doing what he loves in the beautiful Sierra Nevada. I will look for you in every life, my brother. Now go rest high up on that mountain.