Famous Climber Dies In Fall At Yosemite While Livestreaming

A renowned climber from Anchorage Alaska known online as "Orange Tent Guy" died Wednesday from a fall at Yosemite's El Capitan.

Balin Miller, 23, from Anchorage, Alaska died while livestreaming the climb on the first day of the federal government shutdown, his mother, Jeanine Girard-Moorman, confirmed in a Facebook post.

"It is with a heavy heart I have to tell you my incredible son Balin Miller died during a climbing accident today," Girard-Moorman wrote. "My heart is shattered in a million pieces. I don’t know how I will get through this. I love him so much. I want to wake up from this horrible nightmare."

According to a social media post by Tom Evans, a renowned El Capitan photographer, Miller completed his climb of the Sea of Dreams on El Cap on Wednesday. His bag became stuck while he was hauling it up the final pitch.

Miller moved to clear the bag, but his rope was several feet short. Unaware of this, Miller rappelled off the end of the rope, according to Evans.

"He was a young man, highly regarded among the best climbers here. I photographed him for many days on the climb and spoke with him earlier," Evans wrote. "Many climbers on the wall saw the tragedy unfold. These things happen from time to time but the pain never passes. Rest in peace Balin Miller."

Balin and his brother Dylan Miller were raised in Anchorage where they discovered their passion for climbing as young boys.

Miller's adventures spanned Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, the Sierra Nevada, Canadian Rockies, South America and France. At 19, he chartered a plane to summit Mount Huntington in the Alaska Range. By May 2024, at 22, he climbed Denali's West Buttress, and later that year, in November, conquered Cerro Torre in Patagonia, considered one of the most technically challenging peaks.

The National Park Service has not released an official report.

“He’s had probably one of the most impressive last six months of climbing of anyone I can think of,” veteran alpinist Clint Helander told the Anchorage Daily News in July.

Fans and fellow climbers, who had been following Miller's career, expressed their shock and grief on social media as news of his death circulated. Many recounted hearing gasps of horror while watching his livestream during the fall, while others reflected on his modest demeanor despite his increasing recognition.