Alaska climber Balin Miller dies after fall on El Capitan

Balin Miller, a 23-year-old alpinist from Anchorage, Alaska, died on Oct. 1 after falling while rappelling on the Sea of Dreams route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, his family said. Witnesses said the fall, which dropped him roughly 2,400 feet to the base of the 3,000-foot granite wall, occurred as Miller descended to retrieve a stuck haul bag near the top of the route. The incident was captured on a livestream and seen by hundreds of viewers.

Miller's parents announced his death in a video posted to the social media accounts of his outdoor brand, saying, "It is with a heavy heart I have to tell you my incredible son Balin Miller died during a climbing accident today." Family posts described him as an enthusiastic and accomplished climber who felt most alive while on the rock.

People following Miller's ascent online reported that he had reached the top of the route before attempting to haul a bag that had become lodged. Multiple witnesses who saw the livestream and others on the wall said Miller descended his lead line to clear the obstruction, then rappelled. Several accounts indicated his rope did not reach the location of the bag and that he fell off the end of the...