American speed climber Jake Whisenant, 30, from Mammoth Lakes, has died in an accident in the Sierra Nevada, according to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office Coroner. Whisenant gained fame for his rapid ascents, including a record-setting climb on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
Death confirmed by friend
His lifelong best friend, Bailee Moore, confirmed his death on Instagram, writing: "It is with an impossibly heavy heart that I share the passing of my lifelong friend and confidant - Jacob Daniel Whisenant." The post added: "Our family is absolutely devastated by this news, but finds solace in the fact that Jake died doing what he loves in the beautiful Sierra Nevada." Authorities have not released details about the fatal accident.
Record-breaking climbs
Whisenant rose to prominence in 2024 when he and Brant Hysell completed the Lurking Fear route on El Capitan in 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 32 seconds, reportedly shattering previous records held by Yuji Hirayama and Nick Fowler. The pair had completed the same route in four hours just two days earlier.
In May, the Yosemite Climbing Association announced that Whisenant and Noah Fox completed the Nose route twice in a single day, finishing in 14 hours and 38 minutes. The Nose is one of El Capitan's most celebrated routes.
Tributes from the climbing community
Tributes have poured in from fellow climbers. Fox wrote: "I had the privilege of climbing with Jake these past few months and these are memories I will cherish for the rest of my life." Moore concluded her tribute: "I will look for you in every life, my brother. Now go rest high up on that mountain."
