Yosemite speed climber who set record for scaling deadly El Capitan dies in Sierra Nevada accident

Jake Whisenant, Who Raced Up Yosemite’s El Capitan at Record Speed, Dies in a Fall

Authorities in California said he died in a climbing accident. He set a record in 2024 for climbing El Capitan’s Lurking Fear route in under three hours.

Aug 11, 2026

Record-setting El Capitan rock climber dies at age 30 in Sierra Nevada accident

Jake Whisenant, 30, has died after an accident in the Sierra Nevada. The well-known rock climber once scaled El Capitan’s Nose route twice in a single day.

Aug 10, 2026

Yosemite speed climber who set record for scaling deadly El Capitan dies in Sierra Nevada accident

Jake Whisenant gained national attention in October 2024 when he and a fellow climber completed the Lurking Fear route on El Capitan in just under 3 hours.

Aug 9, 2026