Admired climber dies in fall from Yosemite's El Capitan during apparent live-stream

"A popular and promising young mountaineer fell to his death on Yosemite's El Capitan on Wednesday, a tragedy that was reportedly live-streamed on social media. Balin Miller, 23, from Anchorage Alaska, had already reached the top of the 3,000-foot granite wall - among the most famous and challenging rock climbs in the world - when a gear bag he was hauling behind him got stuck, according to a Facebook post by well-known Yosemite photographer Tom Evans, who said he witnessed the accident."

"So Miller, still attached to his rope, went back down to fix the problem, Evans said. "His rope didn't reach the bag's location by many feet, but he seemed unaware of that fact," Evans wrote. "On the way down he rappelled off the end of the rope." Rappelling off the end of a rope is a distressingly common and often deadly mistake - one that can be prevented by tying a stopper knot at the end of the rope."

"Yosemite National Park officials - some of whom are on furlough due to the government shutdown - did not respond to an email requesting comment or issue any statements confirming the accident or its cause. Witnesses said park rangers, many of whom are exempt from the furloughs, arrived at the scene shortly after the accident. Miller's mom, Jeanine Girard-Moorman, confirmed her son's death via social media on Wednesday. "It is with a heavy heart I have to tell you my incredible son died during a climbing accident today," she wrote, adding that her heart was shattered "in a million pieces.""

Balin Miller, 23, from Anchorage fell to his death on Yosemite's 3,000-foot El Capitan while trying to retrieve a gear bag that had gotten stuck behind him. He had reached the summit but rappelled back down while still attached to his rope; his rope did not extend to the bag's location and he rappelled off the end. The fall was reportedly live-streamed on social media. Rappelling off the end of a rope is a common, often deadly mistake that can be prevented by tying a stopper knot. Yosemite officials did not comment; some rangers responded despite furloughs. Miller's mother confirmed his death and described her grief.

Read at Los Angeles Times