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May 2009

ElCap Report 5/31/09

ElCap Report 5/31/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… well there was no rain all day while I was at the bridge and strangely there were no climbers either.  The only action was people who were already on the wall.  There was one party on the Nose and one on SSPO.  A couple of teams with high powered climbers are headed to the Shield.  The bridge was really quiet all day.  We were expecting rain but it never came.
Today’s report is brought to you by Doug and Melissa who hung out all day. 
Today’s ECR just for you…

Zodiac:  I did see a team of two guys fixing the first late in the day.  It looked dry over there so this is a good time to get on it.

ElCap Report 5/30/09

ElCap Report 5/30/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… special day here at the gateway to adventure.  Several old timers and young hot dogs were around today for interviews with the Autry Museum staff for the exhibit being prepared there under the auspices of the Yosemite Climbing Association.  Nice weather for shooting with moderate cloud cover until there was a ripping thunderstorm and torrential down pour!  Seems as though there is a low pressure from down south to the east of us and it is sending lots of moisture our way.  These are not the normal, causal showers we come to expect at this time of year… so…. If you are thinking of a run at the Captain be warned.

ElCap Report 5/29/09

ElCap Reports 5/29/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Well it was an interesting day… he weather was unsettled but not really wet.  Around 11:30am a cloud came over and released a very mild drizzle that lasted for several hours but amounted to little accumulation.  The Bridge was quiet but things picked up when Jay and Jeanette showed up with killer CCC’s and Cobras!  Things only got better.  I left early as various teams were in not so photogenic places.  I still say this weather is nothing to worry about but there is this lingering California fear of rain.  Even the most hardened Patagonia or Himalayan veteran cowers in fear at the mere suggestion that there is a 20% chance of rain!!

ElCap Report 5/28/09

ElCap Report 5/28/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Well it was really nice today… lots of clouds to keep the sun off the Captain and make my shooting so nice!!  Right up until the pouring rain at about 1:13 pm.  But as advertised in previous reports these summer storms are just a quick flash and then they are gone.  This one was pretty hard but was over in 8 minutes 46 seconds.  Then the storm blew out and everyone started climbing again, with the exception of the guys on the Shield and South Seas, as they don’t get rain on the part of the route they were climbing at the time.  Late this evening another storm came up but went off to the west without depositing any rain.  Everyone climbed on and we got the pollen washed out of the air!
So it is on and you need to be here to get it on with the rest of the Big Wall Pukes.
Today’s report is brought by the clouds blocking out the sun so I could get killer shots of the climbers on the Captain today!!  CLOUDS!!!  We love you!!
Today’s ElCap Report…

ElCap Report 5/27/09

ElCap Report 5/27/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Pretty quiet here at the bridge today.  Nice overcast sky kept the heat down and the glare at bay for my shooting.  Few Tourons and climbers around today.  A little thunder boomed from time to time but no rain fell.
The wall east of the NA is empty now and awaits your team to get in there and look good.  In fact there are relatively few climbers on the Captain at the moment. 
I have some other business to attend to so the report will come at you right now… Today’s ElCap Report…

ElCap Report 5/26/09

ElCap Report 5/26/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Nice day if you like great weather until about 4pm and then a busting thunderstorm!  Or, nice weather until 1:25pm and then a roaring avalanche over on the West side of the Captain.  It was too far west to hit any climbs but Alex Honnold saw it up close from the Headwall of the Salathe and said it was raging!  The dust cloud rose up to the height of the Cap.  Patty got a video, as Sean’s dog alerted her to it!  I called it in, as did others I’m sure.  Our Jr. climbing ranger Max came down to get the details.

ElCap Report 5/25/09

ElCap Report 5/25/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Wow!!  Gorgeous day here in the Valley.  Warm sun, cool breeze and an almost empty Captain!  The crowds vanished yesterday so today was vacant.  No traffic jams, no Tourons, and no climbers either! 
Today’s report is brought to you by Mason and Clay who were down from sending Golden Gate over the past several days.  Nice send lads.

ElCap Report 5/24/09

ElCap Report 5/24/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… well here I sit in my van at the Bridge.  The great shadow of the South Buttress has worked its way across the magnificent South East Face of El Capitan as it has done for all of recorded history.  The climbers on Zodiac have finally gotten the shade they’ve sought all day long.  Various teams are just a few minutes from the top and the end of a journey that will remain in their lives for as long as they live.  The ElCap meadow is awash in the warm light of the evening and a cooling breeze is sweeping the grasses from the west.  I would be gone by now but the traffic in the east end of the valley is jammed, so I thought I would just sit here and write the report at the bridge.  Ivo, Ammon, and Corbyn just wandered past seeking a sunny spot to watch the evening unfold. 

ElCap Report 5/23/09

ElCap Report 5/23/09
By Tom Evans
Yo…. Whoa!!  Really great weather today with sunny skies and cool breezes.  Lots of action up on the Big Stone with most of it on the Nose and Salathe.  Yeah I know, tell you something you don’t already know!!  The traffic today was as to be expected with huge lines of cars trying to get out of the park late in the day.  The shuttle was bringing the Tourons as fast as it could drive the loop.  Lots of people looking through the scope today but not many climbers in evidence.  Maybe everyone went climbing?!!  There were some high clouds building up behind the Dome but that’s not unusual. 

ElCap Report 5/22/09

ElCap Report 5/22/09
By Tom Evans
Yo.. Ah yes!!!..  The Bridge was open for business today….  Finally finished with all the improvements.  My parking spot was not erased after all so I had my usual spot to operate from.  The ElCap shuttle bus is now running so all you climbers just down from the East Ledges can wait at the Manure pile parking lot and get a ride down to the Cap and your car, or just stay on and go back to C4.  This weekend appears to be a good one as far as the weather is concerned.   I am kind of pressed for time tonight so without further ramblings….
Today’s ECReport just for you!