ElCap Report 5/19/13

By Tom Evans

Yo… it started out a beautiful spring day.  The three person mixed team on the Nose did the King Swing and was motoring along when I left.  There was a team on the Salathe that was doing well too.  I saw a wall team from yesterday climbing above Camp 5 this morning.

I arrived at the Bridge around 9:20am and was immediately approached by Ranger Ben Doyle who had reported that a call for help had come in from a party high on ElCap.  I set up my instruments and viewed the scene… I was horrified to say the least, and I will not go into any details at this time as an investigation is underway.  One of the team was killed in a fall.  Yosemite Search and Rescue immediately swung into action and did a “from the top” extraction of the deceased climber and is presently evacuating the surviving partner.  In all my 18 years of photographing climbers on ElCap I have never seen such a awful and terrible scene. 

ElCap Report 5/18/13

By Tom Evans

Yo… another spectacular day here in Yosemite Valley.  Sunny and cool, with clean, clear air, to shoot through.  Lots of action on the few routes being climbed, at the moment.  I heard from Dave Allfrey that he and Alex Honnold were going to pick some “Low hanging fruit” today.  Check it out below! 

Most of the teams on the Cap are nearing the top now, so we need some replacements!  That could be you, my faithful reader…. Where the hell are you?  Sitting home watching sports on the Tube?  Well man up, Puke, and show the world what you got!!  I can’t make you world famous if you aren’t in front of my 600mm Nikon f/4 lens.  Imagine the glory, and climbing groupies, you are letting slip away!

ElCap Report 5/15/13

By Tom Evans

Yo… I know you have been going crazy, patiently awaiting the start of the ElCap Report, for 2013.  Relax, all you Cubicle Pukes, your salvation is at hand!  I have been here a week, getting things set up and figured out, and I have been shooting some too.  As you old timers know, I don’t pull any punches when it comes to telling you about the Contenders and the Pretenders.  If you haven’t, then be sure to read the “disclaimer” on the home page!!  So drop what you are doing, saddle up, and catch all the action on ElCap.  Brought to you by your man, at the famous “ElCap Bridge,” Captain Tom!