ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 10/23/10
By Tom Evans
Yo… I heard it late in the night, the pitter patter of rain on the fly of my palatial Walmart tent.   I knew what it meant for those hardy souls, high up on the Captain, pushing their projects late into the season.  Doom.  I went down for a look after breakfast.  The Cap was awash in thick clouds, drifting silently across the great precipice.  I waited a long time but never got a glimpse of Leo and Jason, up there somewhere below the Devil’s Brow, waiting for a shot at the crux pitch that will, unfortunately, not come today.   Bullwinkle talked to Leo last night and they have several days of food and water at the bivy…but Leo has a flight on Thursday and the weather is shit until Tuesday afternoon.  Now there’s even talk of snow on the Valley floor in the next day or so… doom for the climbing season too.  The rest of the Great Rock is deserted and climbers are fleeing the scene like rats leaving the Titanic.  I will be around for another week most likely but don’t think there will be much to report…. But I’m not calling it a season just yet, as there are still some high powered teams here with plans to fulfill.  There has been a steady rain all day and it continues, as I peer out from my corner table at the Mountain Room Bar.  Waitress!... another diet cola and some more chips please!

So that’s the way it is, in the Valley, for this Saturday, the 23rd day of October, 2010.
Keeping dry and watching football at the Mountain Room Bar… your man, Tom Evans.