ElCap Report 5/28/10

ElCap Report 5/28/10

By Tom Evans

Yo… Remember that little rant I made about “sissy storms”? Well we had a storm last night that was way more than the stuff we have been having lately, not a sissy storm! It started raining around 7pm and kept going until long after 11pm when I passed into unconsciousness. But the dawn broke clear and sunny with lots of snow just above the level of the Valley floor. Nice stuff to see and photograph…. So you are going to get some scenic’s with this report. The lurking teams made a run for it on several routes and with the weekend here I can’t think of a better place to be than on ElCap!!

So here it is… Today’s ElCap Report …written just for you…unique in all the world!

Zodiac: Up top we have Meg. She did fix another pitch last evening and took off today for Peanut Ledge in the afternoon. The woman is knocking the pitches down now and nothing is going to stop her from making it up this climb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Meg passing the Devil’s Eyebrow this morning. Funny, she leaves her ledge out but never gets in it during the day.

 

Lower down Mike climbed the first pitch into the White Circle and then….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAIL OF THE DAY!       Mike pulling lines and moving off the Zodiac. He was down safely down by 2pm.

 

Lowest down: A team of two, maybe Joe and Tanya, climbed off the deck with all their kit and set it up at the top of the first pitch. I assume they are blasted!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the toys deployed on Zodiac’s second pitch.

 

ZM: Marc and Markus didn’t do another pitch yesterday so I got to shoot them climbing into the White Circle and turning the 9 O’clock roof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc turning the Roof on ZM.

Trip: Two German guys, Tobi and Reiner, had fixed yesterday and blasted today. They finished the 5th as I departed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The belay at the start of the Trips 5th pitch.

 

Lower down: Bob Lindsey and Oliver are back on the rock after bailing on Zodiac. They fixed and hauled today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob at the belay atop 2 on the Trip.

Mescalito: Steve, Dave, and Eric are on this route now. I have not seen them above the trees yet.

New Dawn: Dave and Adam are on the fast track to run up this route. They are planning on being at LLL this evening.

Tribal: Brian Sadowsky is on this route now. He had a solid season last Autumn, and is up for this great climb.

The Nose: A couple of teams broke out of the mists this morning, jumped some lines and headed toward Dolt Tower this afternoon. The rest of the throng await the lines upward movement. Bob and Ambrose had fixed miles of line and thus made a late, casual start this afternoon in hopes of making Dolt this evening. They are at the back of the line and never appeared in the Legs while I was there.

Salathe: A mixed team headed off to the Salathe with wet suits packed at the ready.

Pace Maker: Pete and Mark are over there or about to be. Listen carefully and you will hear 800 pounds of haulbags being ground to dust over the next couple of weeks.

Scenic shots of the Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glacier Point and the 9 O’clock wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cathedral reflection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mists on ElCap from the banks of the Merced River.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Rock in snow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yosemite Falls and Deer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deer and Cathedrals.

 

So that's the way it is on ElCap for this the 28th day of May, 2010.

Later Tom

 

 

 

 

 

 

Superior Scenics Tom! Chad

Superior Scenics Tom!

Chad

Friends on The Nose..... My

Friends on The Nose.....
My husband Daryl and good friend Colin jumped on Friday morning with snow on the ground.
Thinking about you two......Cheers!
Thanks for the updates Tom.

thank you Tom..

thank you Tom..

Thank you Tom....I feel like

Thank you Tom....I feel like I am there...but alas. I am not.

Wow, snow in May?? very odd.

Wow, snow in May?? very odd. In May of 2005(my first time in Yosemite) the weather was over 100 degrees and stayed that way all summer. For the last few years May weather has been great. Although in spring of 2006 the mosquitoes were HUGE and RAGING. Good for the Bats, not fun for us humans.
Love your report and your biggest fan!
Queen of the Bridge

Go Bob and 'Brose on The

Go Bob and 'Brose on The Nose!
Z-Clip

I heard some parties jugged

I heard some parties jugged their fixed lines and jumped in front of them! Dang! We shouldn't have slept in and ate lodge breakfast. =/

They're still on track though! go boys, go!

.bill

Thanks Tom, love the

Thanks Tom, love the photos!

Enjoy the beauty...

Scenic pictures of the day -

Scenic pictures of the day - wow!

Cheers,

Doug

Way to go Joe and Tanya!!! We

Way to go Joe and Tanya!!! We are watching every day from Alabama and are so proud! I feel like it was only yesterday that you set up the portaledge on the living room of the apartment. Kick some British butt!

Stefan,John and Gerda Are the

Stefan,John and Gerda

Are the in Zodiac and hwo are there!!!

It is indeed Joe and Tanya on

It is indeed Joe and Tanya on Zodiac. I am so thankful for the report Mr Evans!

The guys on the trip are two

The guys on the trip are two germans named Tobi and Reiner.
Have fun. From Vancouver

BAM! Nailed it... Love the

BAM! Nailed it... Love the scenic shots Tom. Oh wait, there were climbers too?

Beautiful stuff, Tom. With

Beautiful stuff, Tom. With two kids screaming in the next room, I've gotta tell you -- the Valley looks mighty tempting.

Oh...Epic Ed checking in on

Oh...Epic Ed checking in on that post above. ;-)

Great work as always, T. M

Great work as always, T.

M

Awesome scenic shots Tom!

Awesome scenic shots Tom! Thanks for sharing your vision.
John
Bend, OR

Wow! That Cathedral picture

Wow! That Cathedral picture rocks!