Popular Alaskan climber dies in fall at Yosemite National Park

MARIPOSA COUNTY, Calif. (KTUU/Gray News) - An Alaskan climber who was on the rise in climbing circles for his ascents on tough terrain and outgoing personality died while summiting a popular peak in California’s Yosemite National Park.

Authorities said Balin Miller was 23 years old when he fell to his death on Wednesday from the top of El Capitan.

Miller’s mother, Jeanine Moorman, said she received the call that day about her son’s death from park rangers.

“My whole world just fell apart, and it’s tough,“ she said. ”There’s no greater pain than losing your child in such a horrific way."

Moorman posted on her Facebook account late Wednesday night about her son’s death, saying that she “will never recover.”

Miller was solo climbing a route known as the “Sea of Dreams” on El Capitan during a multi-day trip up the peak when the fall happened.

El Capitan is considered “one of the world’s ultimate challenges” for rock climbers, according to a description of the mountain on the Yosemite Mariposa County website.

The top of El Cap — as it’s commonly known in climbing circles — tops out at about 7,569 feet, and it stands roughly 3,600 feet above the valley floor.

According to Moorman, as well as Tom Evans, a photographer who was in the Yosemite area that day, Miller had summited El Cap and was trying to get his haul bag up to the top when it became stuck. As he rappelled down trying to free it, Miller came off his ropes, leading to the fall.

Evans wrote in his social media post that Miller was “highly regarded among the best climbers here.”

Moorman currently lives in Washington state, but said the family also owns a cabin in Seldovia, and the family called Alaska home for about 30 years.

She described Miller as having a “Robin Williams” personality and a magnet for people drawn to adventure.

“He was so charismatic and off the wall and just ridiculous,” Moorman said. “Balin was — at times — was completely off the wall and completely ridiculous, and he didn’t care, and he’d just be funny and do silly things ... and people just loved him for that uniqueness."

Nancy Cockcroft, Miller’s aunt, said her nephew was drawn to challenges that most people wouldn’t dare attempt.

“Nothing made him happier,” she said. “He lived life on his own terms. He lived it to the fullest.”

From a young age, Miller showed signs of a love for climbing and the outdoors. His father, David, was also a climber, and they spent time in the outdoors, skiing at places like Tincan Peak in Turnagain Pass on the Kenai Peninsula.

Moorman said his talents eventually surpassed his father’s.

“David’s skill couldn’t come close to what Balen’s skill was,” Moorman said.

Miller often spent time ice climbing in spots along the Seward Highway. His mother said Miller was drawn to places like Alaska, Montana, and Banff, Canada, where he sought out climbing challenges.

Miller also began to make a name for himself in the climbing community with ascents up El Cap in Yosemite, Mount Hunter in Alaska, and the Slovak Direct route up Mt. McKinley (formerly Denali), a 9,000-foot climb up North America’s tallest peak that he did solo, the first ever to pull off that feat.

Moorman said that while her son wasn’t ready to die, he spent his years making the most of his time while he was young.

“He knew the risks, but I don’t think he was ready. You know, I mean, I guess that’s kind of silly, most people aren’t ready to die if you’re mentally healthy,” she said.

“He did not want to die. He wasn’t ready to die. But he did die doing what he loved, for sure,” his mother added.