Jake Whisenant, a 30-year-old record-setting rock climber, died in an accident on August 3 in California’s Sierra Nevada, according to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division.
Climbing Career
Whisenant had made a name for himself in Yosemite’s climbing community with impressive feats on El Capitan, one of the most challenging places to rock-climb. He climbed El Capitan’s Nose route twice in a single day in May with fellow climber Noah Fox, finishing in 14 hours and 38 minutes.
In October 2024, Whisenant and climber Brant Hysell set a speed record on El Capitan’s Lurking Fear route, completing the climb in 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 32 seconds. Whisenant described it as a ‘truly magical day that I’ll never forget.’
Reaction and Warning
Friends and fellow climbers expressed their grief on social media following news of his death. The National Park Service warns that recreation in the high Sierra can come with rapidly changing weather, high elevation, and rugged terrain, advising visitors to plan for potential hazards before heading into the wilderness.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
