Balin Miller, a 23-year-old American climber from Alaska, tragically passed away during a climb at Yosemite National Park. His mother, Jeanine Moorman, confirmed the heartbreaking news on Thursday.
Miller was attempting to summit El Capitan, one of the most famous rock formations in the world, when the fatal accident occurred.
Miller’s death has left the climbing community in shock, as he was widely admired for his adventurous spirit and skill on the rocks. His mother described him as “an extraordinary soul” who had a “touch of Robin Williams’ wild energy.”
Who was Balin Miller?
Miller had been climbing since he was a child. His father introduced him to the sport, and he grew up honing his skills on the mountains of Alaska.
Over the years, he moved from climbing in local cliffs to tackling some of the toughest routes in the world. He spent much of his adult life living a nomadic lifestyle, often in his silver Prius, in order to chase his passion for climbing.
Miller’s journey in climbing included impressive achievements like completing the first solo ascent of the Slovak Direct route on Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, the highest peak in North America.
He also made notable climbs in Patagonia and the Canadian Rockies, including a difficult seven-day ascent of the Reality Bath ice climb, which had not been touched in 37 years.
Climbing was never about fame or money for Miller, but about the pure joy of the sport.
Miller’s final climb
On the day of his death, Miller was live-streaming his climb on TikTok, which had gained him a following in the climbing community. Viewers, who called him “orange tent guy” due to his bright camping setup, watched as Miller reached the summit of El Capitan via the Sea of Dreams route, a challenging 2,400-foot path.
After reaching the top, Miller went to retrieve some stuck bags and tragically fell during the process. His fall was captured on livestream, leaving his followers devastated.
Miller’s mother, Jeanine Moorman, shared the news of his passing on Facebook, saying, “It is with a heavy heart I have to tell you my incredible son Balin Miller died during a climbing accident today.
My heart is shattered in a million pieces. I don’t know how I will get through this. I love him so much.” She added that for Miller, climbing was a lifelong passion, one he pursued wholeheartedly, without any concern for fame or fortune.
His brother Dylan, reflecting on his sibling’s influence, said, “He said he felt most alive when he was climbing. I’m his bigger brother, but he was my mentor.”