Speed climber Jacob Whisenant dies in 'climbing-related incident'
Climber Jacob Whisenant, 30, died in a climbing accident at California's Sierra Nevada range last week.
The National Park Service said it responded to a "climbing-related incident" in the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness on Aug. 2.
Search and rescue and recovery operations were conducted over a two-day period and Whisenant was found dead by rangers, the NPS said.
He was transferred to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, according to the NPS.
Whisenant's death is listed as an "accident," according to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office.
Whisenant holds the fastest climb record of Lurking Fear, a 2,000-foot route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Whisenant and Brant Hysell completed the route in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 32 seconds in October 2024, according to a list of speed records in Yosemite Valley.
Last year, Whisenant and Hysell set another speed climbing record, climbing The Prow, on Yosemite's Washington Column in 2 hours and 52 minutes, according to the list.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct Jacob Whisenant's speed record on the Lurking Fear route.
