Christopher Smaling Was a ‘Soul-Searcher’ Who Found His Home in Yosemite

Every January, we share a tribute to members of our community who we lost last year. Some were legends, others were pillars of their community, all were climbers. Read the full tribute to Climbers We Lost in 2025 here.

Christopher William Smaling, 28, June 10

When Christopher Smaling graduated a year early from high school, his father, Rudolf, thought it would be a good idea for him to take a gap year to explore the world. His dad, an engineer, moved the family for work a lot, which...