Jake Whisenant, a 30-year-old climber who gained national attention for setting a speed record on Yosemite's El Capitan, died on August 3 in an accident in the Sierra Nevada.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Coroner confirmed Whisenant's death, though further details about the circumstances of the accident have not been released. A longtime friend, Bailee Moore, confirmed the news in an Instagram post, stating that Whisenant died doing what he loved.
Whisenant and fellow climber Brant Hysell set a speed record in October 2024 by completing the Lurking Fear route on El Capitan in 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 32 seconds. This ascent surpassed the previous record held by Yuji Hirayama and Nick Fowler. In May, Whisenant and Noah Fox also completed a double ascent of the Nose route on El Capitan in a single day, finishing in 14 hours and 38 minutes.
The climbing community has expressed widespread condolences following the announcement of his death.