Record-breaking climber Jake Whisenant dies aged 30 after accident in Sierra Nevada
Record breaking climber Jake Whisenant has tragically died aged just 30 following an accident in the Sierra Nevada.
Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Coroner said that Whisenant died on 3 August with his cause of death listed as an ‘accident’.
As yet, officials have shared no further details on his death.
However, tributes have begun to pour in from across the climbing community.
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Long-term friend Bailee Moore shared a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram, saying he ‘died doing what he loves’.
She wrote: “It is with an impossibly heavy heart that I share the passing of my lifelong friend and confidant — Jacob Daniel Whisenant.
“Our family is absolutely devastated by this news but find solace in the fact that Jake died doing what he loves in the beautiful Sierra Nevada.”
The post has since been flooded with messages of condolence, with one person writing: “My heart is broken with you. Jake was such a light in this world, he was your brother. Sending you so much love sis, he will be so missed.”
Another commented: “Jake was such a kind and genuine human, and he will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Noah Fox, who had climbed with Whisenant back in May, 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.”
Whisenant made headlines in the climbing community back in October 2024 after he and fellow climber Brant Hysell took on El Capitan, a towering 3,000ft summit in Yosemite National Park.
The two men set a new record after scaling El Capitan, which has the tallest exposed vertical face of granite in the world, in just two hours, 55 minutes and 32 seconds.
The time smashed the previous record, set by Yuji Hirayama and Nick Fowler, by almost 10 minutes.
In an Instagram post celebrating the record-breaking achievement, Whisenant wrote: “On Sunday October 27 Brant Hysell and I broke the Lurking Fear speed record on El Capitan.
“A truly magical day that I’ll never forget. We both tapped into a flow state, fully committed to our plan, and most importantly had an absolute blast on our favourite rock. We had perfect weather for a shirtless ascent and the entire route to ourselves.
"Having the audacity to take a record held by legends @yuji_hirayama_stonerider and Nick Fowler since 2003 was something that I honestly did not think was possible. The Valley lore was that Yuji had led the whole climb, power laybacking the steep 5.12 pitches on my block. In a place where so many legendary figures have written history, its easy to talk yourself out of your potential, especially when you just climb for fun and dont get paid to do it.
"I’m grateful for a partner who is down to find the limit, and for Yosemite and all of the lessons it has taught me. No doubt I will continue to be humbled and taught lessons by this place."
Making the incredible accomplishment all the more impressive, Whisenant told Gripped magazine that they completed the climb just two days after tackling the same summit in around four hours.
“We had done a 4:04 lap the Friday before and decided to go for it, dropping a few cams and taking less water and no food,” Whisenant said at the time.
He added: “We're both full time 9-5ers that are most definitely not sponsored or professional.”
Claire Reid