Overview
- Park officials said rangers and emergency personnel responded quickly, as national parks operated with limited services due to a federal shutdown.
- Photographer Tom Evans, who witnessed the incident on El Capitan, described a stuck haul bag and said Miller rappelled past the rope end before he called 911.
- Viewers reported seeing portions of the climb on a TikTok livestream, and fellow climbers in Yosemite knew Miller as the “Orange Tent Guy.”
- Brother Dylan Miller said Balin was lead rope soloing the 2,400-foot Sea of Dreams route and had completed the climb when he fell while hauling gear.
- The 23-year-old had recently gained acclaim for major solo ascents including Denali’s Slovak Direct and Banff’s Reality Bath, as tributes poured in from the climbing community.