The climbing world is in mourning. The American Balin Miller, 23, lost his life while climbing El Capitan, the iconic granite wall in Yosemite National Park in California. His mother, Jeanine Moorman, confirmed the news in a post where she described her son as “an extraordinary person” and acknowledged that the details of the accident are still unclear.

Miller was attempting to complete the route known as “Sea of ??Dreams,” one of the most complex on the 915-meter-high formation. The young man was followed by dozens of people through a live broadcast on TikTok, until the fall that proved fatal.

“This is unthinkable. At this moment, we still do not know all the details. What we do know is that the world has lost an extraordinary soul, and our hearts are broken,” his mother wrote.

A promising career in climbing

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Miller began climbing at a young age with his father and brother. Over the years, he became an internationally recognized mountaineer, conducting expeditions to places such as Patagonia, the Canadian Rockies, and the Alps. In June of this year, he reached a milestone by soloing the Slovak Direct route on Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America. The ascent took him 56 hours and was considered by experts to be one of the most impressive achievements in modern climbing. Veteran climber Clint Helander told the Anchorage Daily News at the time: “He’s probably had one of the most impressive last six months of climbing that I can remember.” Miller was also known for his distinctive style. He sometimes wore silver glitter on his face during his ascents, which he described as a gesture of preparation before “going into battle.” He also earned the nickname “the man in the orange tent” for his striking base camp on El Capitan.

The tragedy in Yosemite

The accident occurred the same day that the United States federal government initiated a partial closure that affected the operation of national parks, although Yosemite remained open with limited services.

Witnesses, such as photographer Tom Evans, said that Miller was trying to free his backpack stuck on the rock when he lost control. The National Park Service reported that rangers and emergency personnel responded immediately and that the case remains under investigation.

Balin Miller's death is the third recorded this year in Yosemite related to outdoor activities. In June, an 18-year-old man died while climbing without a rope, and in August another visitor lost his life after being struck by a branch.