sports
Record-breaking El Capitan climber dies in Sierra Nevada fall
Jacob ‘Jake’ Whisenant died in Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness in ‘climbing-related incident’, authorities say
TL;DR
- Jacob Whisenant, 30, died in a climbing fall in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness on August 3.
- He was known for speed climbing records, including a 2024 ascent of a 2,000ft route on El Capitan in under three hours.
- Whisenant also completed the Nose route on El Capitan twice in a single day in May.
- His fiancée confirmed he died during a first ascent climb in Sequoia Kings Canyon.
- A GoFundMe has been launched to create memorials in places he loved, remembering his respect for nature and others.