Home / Disasters and Accidents / Promising Climber Balin Miller Dies in Tragic Fall from Yosemite's El Capitan
Promising Climber Balin Miller Dies in Tragic Fall from Yosemite's El Capitan
6 Oct
Summary
- 23-year-old climber Balin Miller died after falling 3,000 ft. off El Capitan in Yosemite
- Miller's mother, a nurse, says losing a child is "drowning in sorrow" and "unbearable"
- Miller was livestreamed during his final moments before the fatal fall
On October 1st, 2025, 23-year-old promising climber Balin Miller tragically died after falling almost 3,000 feet off Yosemite's El Capitan. Miller's mother, Jeanine Girard-Moorman, a nurse, says that losing a child is devastating, describing it as "drowning in sorrow" and "unbearable."
Miller, who was well-known in the climbing community, had been climbing since childhood with his father and brother. He had recently completed what is considered the first solo climb of the Slovak Direct route on Denali. The El Capitan climb was meant to be a fun stop on the way to a family gathering, but it turned into a nightmare.
Miller's final moments were livestreamed on a park enthusiast's TikTok channel, which has since been taken down. The video showed him reaching the summit and then struggling to get his gear bag unstuck, before suddenly running out of rope and plunging to his death. Miller's brother, a 25-year-old nurse, believes the accident was likely caused by a lapse in concentration and the lack of a stopper knot at the end of the rope.
The family is devastated by the loss of Balin, who was described as a goofy, snarky, and passionate climber who loved old music and spending time with his loved ones. His brother says he was looking forward to growing old and teaching their future kids how to climb together.
