ElCap Report 5/26/10

ElCap Report 5/26/10

By Tom Evans

Yo… Storms? What storms? Last night it sprinkled for a few minutes and today it did so again. Hello?! These are not storms, these are Spring showers. The weather reports, not the weather itself, are killing the climbing season. It is a bit on the cool side but the Captain is damp, not wet. Tomorrow is supposed to be bad but my confidence in the forecasts has evaporated in the mists of ElCap. I need to get Sloan in here with the charts and darts and get a real forecast! Anyway the action continues on the SE Face for the most part.

 

So throw off that rain gear, rack up your shit, get a move on because you are coming with me to the SE Face of ElCap to climb with the senders and the pretenders. Here it is, right now: Today’s Elcap Report…written just for you…unique in all the world.

Zodiac: Mike stayed in his ledge all morning and finally got to climbing around noon. He was linking the 5th and 6th when I left at 3pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Donaldson reaching for the bolts on the 5th of Zodiac.

Higher up, Meg Curry lead the pitch into the circle and was on the long pitch to the Nipple pitch when I left. I’ve got to tell you sports fans, after watching her climb yesterday I figured she would be long gone by this morning. But there she was still on the route. True, she leans way too hard on the big stick, but she is displaying an endearing blend of determination and tenacity that go a long way on an ElCap climb. Hopefully she will gain more confidence and competence as she proceeds, on her ElCap odyssey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meg taking a hard look at the White Circle.

Zenyatta: Marc and Markus climbed to the start of the Lightning Bolt Roofs pitch as I was departing and have time to do it late this afternoon. So I will most likely miss this great pitch … and they are dressed to the nines too!!! Shit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

German team on the top of ZM’s 4 th pitch.

 

 

Meg you got it again!!!   STICK OF THE DAY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meg sticking it to the White Circle on Zodiac.  Meg, tell me it ain't so!!

 

 

I did get around to shoot some other stuff today and here is some of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ElCap with a banner of clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridal Vail Falls and the Leaning Tower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yosemite Falls with the top in cloud.

In other news: The Spring season is moving along with or without you, so get here if you can. The Bridge, windy and cold today, but warmed up considerably when the sun came through breaks in the clouds. Friday is supposed to be the start of a long spell of good weather and the Monkey’s are ready to pounce, so get your route carried to and fixed now. Piton Pete came by with pard Mark, saying that they are now on Pace Maker, which actually starts at Lung ledge. So beware all who enter the Pete Zone.  Mason and Brad, abandon all hope you are about to be plowed under!! 

I am not looking forward to the weekend with all the hordes descending upon the Valley to see the sights. The traffic will be impossible in the evenings and the Bridge over run with gobs of Tourons. Calgon, take me away!!

So that’s the way it is for this the 26th day of May 2010.

I’m out of here… Mot Snave.

 

 

Hope the weather is better in

Hope the weather is better in the valley then the rest of the Sierra, this morning Donner pass was socked in with full chain law in effect !! and The valley is under a winter storm warning,

Tom, You make my day sunny.

Tom,
You make my day sunny. Thanks for another pictures and words. You are unique in all the world...
Regan

soloists are rad! even if

soloists are rad! even if they're stickin' it long. thanks tom! pate

Rock on, Doug. A stick,

Rock on, Doug.
A stick, though, man? I dunno.........Say it ain't so.
Arrrrggh.
Skully

See ya with the hordes on

See ya with the hordes on Sat. around noon, Tom.

I, myself, am consciously avoiding the single malts on this trip!

Mark H.

Stick of the day. It has

Stick of the day. It has been three years since I graduated from the 'stick' and fortunately Tom never caught me on film using it BITD.
Glad to hear that our french friend from the Salathe is making a recovery. When the $hit hits the fan, we're all from the same tribe.

Cheers,

Doug

It would appear that I myself

It would appear that I myself have entered the Pete [sic] Peat Zone - with a glass of lovely single malt scotch.

Dang, it's sooooooo hard climbing El Cap. Maybe it'll just keep raining and we'll have to stay down on the ground and talk about it, eh?

Cheers and beers, or rather scotch this evening,
Pete

P.S. Much easier to read your authentication code thingy, Tom.