{"id":39567,"date":"2026-08-11T23:46:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T18:46:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=39567"},"modified":"2026-08-11T23:46:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T18:46:41","slug":"elite-rock-climber-jake-whisenant-died-of-blunt-force-trauma-at-sequoia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=39567","title":{"rendered":"Elite rock climber Jake Whisenant died of blunt force trauma at Sequoia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Authorities have revealed the cause of death of Jake Whisenant, an elite rock climber who recently died in an accident in <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593643\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/travel\/vacation-destinations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">California&#8217;s Sierra Nevada,<\/a> shocking many.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Whisenant died of &#8220;blunt force trauma injuries, sustained as a result of a fall,&#8221; the Tulare County Sheriff\u2019s Office told Fox News Digital. He was just 30 years old.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The spokesperson also disclosed that the incident took place at Sequoia National Park.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593644\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/travel\/record-setting-el-capitan-rock-climber-dies-age-30-sierra-nevada-accident\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>RECORD-SETTING EL CAPITAN ROCK CLIMBER DIES AT AGE 30 IN SIERRA NEVADA ACCIDENT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Whisenant\u2019s death was first announced by his friend, Bailee Moore, who remembered him as her &#8220;lifelong friend and confidant.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Our family is absolutely devastated by this news but find solace in the fact that Jake died doing what he loves in <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593645\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the beautiful Sierra Nevada<\/a>,&#8221; said Moore.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/CA-SPEED-CLIMBER-ACCIIDENT-SIERRA-NEVADA-WHAT-TO-KNOW-TRAVEL-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/CA-SPEED-CLIMBER-ACCIIDENT-SIERRA-NEVADA-WHAT-TO-KNOW-TRAVEL-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/CA-SPEED-CLIMBER-ACCIIDENT-SIERRA-NEVADA-WHAT-TO-KNOW-TRAVEL-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/CA-SPEED-CLIMBER-ACCIIDENT-SIERRA-NEVADA-WHAT-TO-KNOW-TRAVEL-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/CA-SPEED-CLIMBER-ACCIIDENT-SIERRA-NEVADA-WHAT-TO-KNOW-TRAVEL-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/CA-SPEED-CLIMBER-ACCIIDENT-SIERRA-NEVADA-WHAT-TO-KNOW-TRAVEL-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/CA-SPEED-CLIMBER-ACCIIDENT-SIERRA-NEVADA-WHAT-TO-KNOW-TRAVEL-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/CA-SPEED-CLIMBER-ACCIIDENT-SIERRA-NEVADA-WHAT-TO-KNOW-TRAVEL-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/CA-SPEED-CLIMBER-ACCIIDENT-SIERRA-NEVADA-WHAT-TO-KNOW-TRAVEL-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Two images of Jake while hiking on mountains\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Accomplished rock climber Jake Whisenant died at age 30 after an accident in California&#8217;s Sierra Nevada.<\/span> <span>(jake.doubleyew via Instagram)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I will look for you in every life, my brother. Now go rest high up on that mountain.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Whisenant had established himself in Yosemite&#8217;s climbing community through a series of impressive feats on El Capitan, one of the world\u2019s <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593646\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/travel\/general\/extreme-travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">most challenging rock-climbing destinations,<\/a> as Fox News Digital previously reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593647\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/travel\/nurse-impaled-pole-during-hike-forced-trek-10-miles-help-a-freak-thing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>NURSE IMPALED BY POLE DURING HIKE FORCED TO TREK 10 MILES FOR HELP: &#8216;A FREAK THING&#8217;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In May, Whisenant teamed up with fellow climber Noah Fox to climb El Capitan&#8217;s Nose route twice in one day, completing the feat in 14 hours and 38 minutes, according to the Yosemite Climbing Association.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In October 2024, Whisenant and another climber named Brant Hysell set a speed record on <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593648\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/travel\/one-man-turned-skyscraper-worlds-most-dangerous-destination-pretty-surreal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">El Capitan&#8217;s Lurking Fear route<\/a>, completing the climb in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 32 seconds.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Split image of Jake Whisenant selfies on hikes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Rock climber Jake Whisenant, age 30, died Aug. 3 after an accident in California&#8217;s Sierra Nevada, according to authorities.<\/span> <span>(@jake.doubleyew via Instagram)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">At the time, Whisenant described it as a &#8220;truly magical day that I\u2019ll never forget.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593649\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/travel\/yellowstone-officials-decide-fate-bison-launched-grandfather-8-feet-air\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>YELLOWSTONE OFFICIALS DECIDE FATE OF BISON THAT LAUNCHED GRANDFATHER 8 FEET IN AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;We both tapped into a flow state, fully committed to our plan, and most importantly had an absolute blast on our favorite rock,&#8221; he wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"pull-quote\">\n<p class=\"quote-text\">&#8220;That type of incredible psychological and technical skill is rare, and it is special.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <!----><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">It takes an &#8220;incredible commitment&#8221; to excel at climbing, Michael Gervais, a high-performance psychologist and founder of <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593650\" href=\"https:\/\/findingmastery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Finding Mastery, <\/a>said in an interview with Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Gervais, based in California, said becoming an elite climber requires an extraordinary level of mental and physical commitment. (He did not advise or work with Whisenant.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters?cmpid=fnfirstnl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The consequences are so high, because the thrill is so wonderful,&#8221; said Gervais. &#8220;It requires an all-in full commitment to be elite in this consequential sport.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/343\/192\/SEQUOIA-NATIONAL-PARK-CA-WOLF-SIGHTING-2.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/686\/384\/SEQUOIA-NATIONAL-PARK-CA-WOLF-SIGHTING-2.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/672\/378\/SEQUOIA-NATIONAL-PARK-CA-WOLF-SIGHTING-2.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1344\/756\/SEQUOIA-NATIONAL-PARK-CA-WOLF-SIGHTING-2.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/931\/523\/SEQUOIA-NATIONAL-PARK-CA-WOLF-SIGHTING-2.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1862\/1046\/SEQUOIA-NATIONAL-PARK-CA-WOLF-SIGHTING-2.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/720\/405\/SEQUOIA-NATIONAL-PARK-CA-WOLF-SIGHTING-2.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1440\/810\/SEQUOIA-NATIONAL-PARK-CA-WOLF-SIGHTING-2.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1200\/675\/SEQUOIA-NATIONAL-PARK-CA-WOLF-SIGHTING-2.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"View of tourist with towering Sequoia National Park trees\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Sequoia National Park sits in California&#8217;s Sierra Nevada, where Jake Whisenant died following a climbing accident.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;They\u2019re able to override that reflexive brain dictum and focus all their attention on the task at hand: the next placehold, the next foothold, the next challenge in front of them to be able to solve,&#8221; added Gervais.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593652\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/lifestyle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;That type of incredible psychological and technical skill is rare, and it is special.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/sierra-nevada-accident-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/sierra-nevada-accident-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/sierra-nevada-accident-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/sierra-nevada-accident-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/sierra-nevada-accident-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/sierra-nevada-accident-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/sierra-nevada-accident-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/sierra-nevada-accident-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/sierra-nevada-accident-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Whisenant selfie next to Sierra Nevada\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Friends remembered Jake Whisenant as a kind and genuine person following news of the 30-year-old climber&#8217;s death.<\/span> <span>(@jake.doubleyew via Instagram; George Rose\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">He cautioned against viewing <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593653\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/travel\/lone-survivor-rescued-fatal-fall-kills-three-climbers-mount-mckinley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">elite climbers<\/a> as thrill-seekers or &#8220;adrenaline junkies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593654\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/lifestyle\/quizzes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;From the inside, spending the last 25 years working with the best athletes in the world &#8230; we have a very different perspective,&#8221; said Gervais.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/343\/192\/sequoia-national-park.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/686\/384\/sequoia-national-park.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/672\/378\/sequoia-national-park.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1344\/756\/sequoia-national-park.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/931\/523\/sequoia-national-park.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1862\/1046\/sequoia-national-park.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/720\/405\/sequoia-national-park.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1440\/810\/sequoia-national-park.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1200\/675\/sequoia-national-park.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"visitors walk into meadow in national park\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Authorities said the accomplished rock climber died after a fall at California&#8217;s Sequoia National Park.<\/span> <span>(Paul Bersebach\/MediaNews Group\/Orange County Register)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Elite climbers, in this case \u2014 they are not adrenaline junkies. They have developed the full capacity to become <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_travel_article_main-content_article-body_6_1593655\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/lifestyle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">incredibly present<\/a> in environments where full command of themselves is required,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;So, it&#8217;s that state of being fully present that I think is incredibly compelling.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Authorities have revealed the cause of death of Jake Whisenant, an elite rock climber who recently died in an accident in California&#8217;s Sierra Nevada, shocking many.\u00a0 Whisenant died of &#8220;blunt force trauma injuries, sustained as a result of a fall,&#8221; the Tulare County Sheriff\u2019s Office told Fox&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ca-sequoia-climber-death-2.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39567"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39567\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}