Zach Milligan, a renowned climber who famously skied down Half Dome in Yosemite National Park two years ago, has been found dead in Banff, Alberta at the base of Polar Circus, a well-known ice climb. Milligan, who was 42 years old, was confirmed dead by his sister Martha. He was a talented alpine skier, climber, musician, and storyteller, according to his sister’s Facebook post.
Born in Tucker, Georgia, Milligan became interested in climbing when he saw a photo of Half Dome on the wall of a barber shop at the age of 18. He moved to Yosemite and lived in a cave in the mountains for 13 years while working for a cleaning company. He then moved to Montana and ran a flooring business, frequently sleeping in his van. In 2011, he started dating fellow climber Kristin Anderson, and the two were living together in Yosemite at the time of his death.
Milligan was known for his dislike of photos and publicity, according to his friend and fellow climber Chris Van Leuven. However, his name became well-known in the climbing world after he skied down Half Dome with Jason Torlano in February 2021, in a daring feat that involved rappelling and skiing down the ‘death slabs’ beneath the iconic face of Half Dome.
Anderson paid tribute to Milligan, calling him the most interesting person she had ever met and crediting him with pushing her past her limits and making her a better climber. She said that her favorite moments with him were spent exploring high Sierra ridges and talking about everything under the sun.
»First person to ski down the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park found dead in Canadian Rockies«