Zach Milligan, who’s climbing feats at Yosemite are a thing of legend, has been found dead in the Canadian Rockies.
Milligan’s body was found at the base of a 2,300 cliff in Jasper National Park on Feb. 11. Police say his death appears to be accidental.
Milligan and a friend made headlines in 2021 when they became the first people to ski down Half Dome. He had reportedly climbed the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome 20 times and the 1,640-foot tall Steck-Salathé route up Sentinel Rock at least 275 times.
He spent 20 years living at Yosemite National Park, including 13 years living in a cave while working for a cleaning service at the park.
Friend and fellow climber Chris Van Leuven recalled Milligan’s “insatiable love for adventure”.
“He is my favorite dude, and I really loved his honesty — I loved his personality, his black-and-white way of viewing the world, his dedication to his craft and his high ethics,” Van Leuven told the Calgary Sun from California.
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
