Death on El Capitan: When Passion Becomes a Double Edged Sword The climbing community is reeling from the loss of Jake Whisenant, a 30 year old climber who died in an accident while scaling El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
His friend Bailee Moore noted that Whisenant was killed doing what he loved, highlighting the delicate balance between passion and risk. Climbing often romanticizes pushing oneself to the limit as a badge of honor.
The notion of living on the edge has become a coveted status among many climbers, but this line can be blurred.