Who was Jake Whisenant? What to know about Yosemite climber who died at 30

Yosemite climber Jake Whisenant died in a Sierra Nevada accident on August 3, 2026. He was known for his speed ascents of El Capitan's challenging routes. Whisenant and Brant Hysell set a speed record on El Capitan's Lurking Fear route. They completed the climb in under three hours, breaking an old record. The climbing community mourns the loss of a notable speed climber.