Yosemite speed climber who set record for scaling lethal El Capitan dies in Sierra Nevada accident

New York Post ^ | Aug. 9, 2026 | Zain Khan

[nickcarraway]

A 30-year-old climber who made headlines for racing up Yosemite’s famed El Capitan in record time has died in an accident in the Sierra Nevada.

Jake Whisenant, a Mammoth Lakes climber known for his speed ascents, died Aug. 3, according to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Coroner.

Officials have not released further details about the circumstances of the accident.

[Red Badger]

Ping!...............

[Wally_Kalbacken]

I get the willies looking at images of them celebrating. I do not understand this. But it’s a free country, I guess. Look out below!

[sjmjax]

I’d say probably more “splat” than “ping”.

Hard to watch free climbers. Amazing skill and confidence. Extremely dangerous and totally unforgiving.

[Red Badger]

Rarely do you ever get to make more than one mistake.................

[Sicon]

He died Aug. 3, and officials have not released further details about the circumstances of his fatal accident.

Here are the details:

He climbed real high, then he fell real far, then he went "splat!".

[NorthMountain]

...
Gory, gory, what a helluva way to die
And he ain't gonna jump climb no more!
...

[NorthMountain]

Seems to me what’s said of old and bold pilots goes double for alpinists.

[teeman8r]

he now holds the descent record... or tied at least, posthumously of course.

[Jim W N]

I guess Jake Whisenant must have beat Alex Honnold’s record free climbing assent on El Capitan.

Sorry he died. It’s a dangerous business.

[red-dawg]

He’s now a Speed Faller.

[caver]

“I guess Jake Whisenant must have beat Alex Honnold’s record free climbing assent on El Capitan.”

That was my question. Did he beat Honnold’s record?

[jagusafr]

Can’t work up any sympathy for this guy. IMHO, extreme rock climbers are supremely selfish. Especially the ones who also choose to marry and/or have children.

[Bullish]

The fall didn’t kill him, but he stuck the landing.

[Responsibility2nd]

Going up the mountain fast is hard.

Going down fast is easy.

[fidelis]

Jake Whisenant, a Mammoth Lakes climber known for his speed ascents, died Aug. 3

Speed kills. As they say, he died doing what he loved. That is the flip side for people who engage in dangerous stunts--they get the admiration when they are successful, but if they fail and are killed, people are somehow shocked and horrified.

At 30 years old, it is a young life wasted. May he rest in peace and may the good Lord comfort his loved ones.

[Organic Panic]

Tulare County = Mexico Del Norte

[Organic Panic]

To be fair it’s only about 20 feet horizontal

[Justa]

He now also holds the fastest down record.

[MtnClimber]

These people who go for record ascents have, from my experience, a supremacist, narcissist mind set. They will risk all to be the best, even though who cares.