Really late season photos from ElCap 10/24/16

By Tom Evans

Yo.. Storming in the Valley this week.  Lots of climbers are patiently awaiting the return of good weather but this just might be the end for many.  Interesting things going on, or trying to go on, I should say.  Adam Ondra, the famous CZE climber, is here with entourage, to try to repeat the Free Dawn Wall.  Jorg Verhoeven, is here to try to free Dihedral Wall.  You may remember that this accomplished Dutch climber made the 4^th free ascent of the Nose last year.  An Austrian mixed team is working on freeing Zodiac and another European team is working on El Corazon.  Rob Miller is back to work his new route up the Muir, as are several others.  Plus, all the regular wall climbs are going on too.  I am out of here in a couple more days to head home to get ready for a cruise in early Nov.  Here are shots from the last several days.

ElCap Late Season Shots 10/17/16

By Tom Evans

Yo.. Torrential rains, riding a wild west wind, swept into the Valley last night.  The water falls are once again booming!  ElCap is pretty empty, except for two parties on SSPO and a solo on PSD.  I have not had a chance to go down to the Cap since last evening and we now have a thick fog in the valley. So it may be some time before anything more is known about the teams up on the Cap. 

Later...4 in the afternoon... went down to the hill and saw that Regan was under the Devils Brow with a huge waterfall going past him a few feet away... still raining as it has done all day.... it is supposed to go all night too.... too much water!!!

But all this weather gives me a moment to post some shots from the past few days… so here they are..taken just for you…unique in all the world!

ElCap Report 10/5/16

By Tom Evans

Yo.. The great weather us upon us…warm days and crisp nights!  This is it!!  Now or never!  You won’t get a better chance to climb ElCap than now.  I managed to get some time off from Adidas today and got some EC shots for you to see.

ElCap Report 10/4/16

By Tom Evans

Yo… Ahhh the winds have subsided, the sun is bright and warm, and the race is on to climb ElCap.  The Nose is back to ruling the rock but the Salathe/Freerider is not far behind.  So this just might be the moment you’ve waited for to get off your butt and come on out to get on that route you always wanted to climb.  I am shooting for Adidas tomorrow so there most likely won’t be a Report then.

ElCap Report 10/3/16

By Tom Evans

Yo.. Mmmm seems the weatherman got it wrong yesterday as it was a day of heavy overcast and some rain.  Fortunately, there was little wind.  Most teams made slow progress in the dreary, cold conditions.  I ran out of energy around one pm and retreated to my tent and slept for 16 hours straight.  Usually this happens at the end of the season but I guess my busy schedule has taken its toll.  Anyway I feel much better now.

ElCap Report 10/2/16

By Tom Evans

Yo.. A cold wind blew in from the west and temperatures plunged to seasonal lows today.  The big trade routes are getting most of the attention now that recent teams on other routes have topped out or will do so soon.  Let’s get right to the latest from ElCap.

ElCap Report 10/1/2016

By Tom Evans

Yo.. Cooler weather has arrived, carried here on strong winds this morning. The Nose is essentially empty save some posers struggling around the introductory pitches.  The Salathe/Freerider remains quite popular with several parties vying for the send.  The big aid routes are continuing to be popular.  I have a day off from shooting for Adidas so I did get some shots and news.  Tomorrow is the Hans extravaganza on the Snout Route.  It should be interesting as he plans to rap the Nose instead of hoofin the East Ledges.  Stay tuned…

ElCap Report 9/29/2016

By Tom Evans

Yo..Great weather is bringing out great numbers of climbers.  Lots of action… but ironically, not on the Nose which is languishing in disuse at the moment.  Salathe/Freerider is the King for the week and maybe longer.  Sunday is going to be interesting as Hans Florine has a project going that will be a real crowd pleaser.  So stay tuned for all the latest happenings on the Cap.

Today’s ElCap Report..written just for you…unique in all the world!

ElCap Report 9/28/2016

By Tom Evans

Yo… Well it has been pretty warm these past few days and we are looking forward to some better conditions.  The old Cap is filling up.  Not much action on the Nose, but a lot on Salathe/Freerider.  Plus routes we don’t see a lot of are getting done too.  Let’s get to it!!

ElCap Report 9/27/16

By Tom Evans

Yo… It’s still kinda warm these days but the forecast is for much cooler temps coming soon … so if the heat is your problem, then your salvation is at hand.  I was able to get down to EC to shoot for 4 hours this morning, so I have a better variety of shots for you today.  The teams we have been watching in recent days have moved up the cliff now and some even have topped out. 

ElCap Report 9/26/2016

By Tom Evans

Yo… Warm temps have returned to the Valley and climbers are heading for the shady routes.  I only got an hour at the EC meadow today and spent the rest of the day shooting for Adidas.  That hour was the first of the day so what you will see is just the start of a long day of climbing.

ElCap Report 9/25/16

By Tom Evans

Yo.. Super duper weather continues to keep the Cap hopping with climbers.  I was not able to spend much time at EC today and got just a few shots.  I spent the rest of the day shooting for Adidas.  This may be a pattern for the next couple of weeks so please bear with me.

ElCap Report 9/24/2016

By Tom Evans

Yo.. Continued fine weather seems to be the driving force behind the recent surge of climbers on ElCap.  I was able to shoot ElCap for a few hours today and worked for Adidas the rest of the day.  Tomorrow will be mostly Adidas so the reports may thin out a bit over the next week or so.  Lots of cool climbing going on so with that said…

ElCap Report 9/23/2016

By Tom Evans

Yo.. We had a beautiful day with comfortable temperatures and little wind.  The SE Face is getting most of the attention these days but I have heard that several teams will be setting off on the SW Face tomorrow.  We are now in prime season with great weather forecast for the next week or so. 

ElCap Report 9/22/2016

By Tom Evans

Yo.. Fall weather is upon us.  The day dawned clear and cold and the rain was a distant memory.  The Big Stone is seeing more action now and some interesting routes are being climbed.  So stay tuned for all the latest news straight from the Captain. 

ElCap Report 9/21/2016

By Tom Evans

Yo... the rains came but not the driving kind.  Showers on and off all day.  The only team on the SE face is the Heart Land guys who hauled kit.  A team on the Salathe was seen at the Roof.  It looks like everyone else is off the wall at this time.

So that's the way it is for this Wednesday, the 21st day of September, 2016.

Capt. Tom... staying dry.

ElCap Report 9/20/2016

By Tom Evans

Yo.. Clouds have come into the valley, bringing a much needed respite from the recent hot weather.  Slight chance of rain in the forecast.  The action is heating up as you will read in the Report below… so get to it!

ElCap Report 9/18 and 19/ 2016

By Tom Evans

Yo… Not much action on ElCap these past two days.  You guessed it… the weather has been hot, hot, and hotter.  Only the Nose and Salathe have seen much action but like I said a couple of days ago… things are about to happen on a larger scale.  Starting this coming Saturday I will be shooting for Adidas Outdoor for the next two weeks so the reports may be combinations of days like today’s is.  The Face Lift starts today and the place is packed with attendees.  The traffic patterns are much changed too so please pay attention when you are driving.

ElCap Report 9/17/16

By Tom Evans

Yo..  The weather is really nice now and the numbers are increasing on EC.  Lots of action on the Nose, with the rest of the big 5 longing for some action.  Big things to come, including the Face-lift this next week.  Beware of the roads as the old one way roads are now two way. 

ElCap Report 9/16/16

By Tom Evans

Yo… Spectacular weather has set in now and the big trades are getting a workout.  I had a nice drive up yesterday and found the smoke gone from the Valley and the traffic pattern considerably changed and that is a good thing!  So pay attention when you are visiting the park.  Camp 4 is pretty full most of the time and the annual Face Lift is coming up in a few days, so plan accordingly.