ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 6/18/14

By Tom Evans

Yo... Splendid weather continues to dominate the Sierra.  So this is the time for you to take your last shot at the Captain before the heat makes it a suffer fest.

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

1)  The Team Extreme Riders (TER) team is off Aurora now and onto the last pitches of the Trip.  They should be off tomorrow.  Here they are getting out early in the morning.  They did top out the next morning after an excellent effort!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)  Later in the morning they got the sun.  You may wonder why you are seeing so many cross lit shots on the Report these days.  As the sun gets higher in the sky the light gets very harsh that makes it difficult to see the climbers.  So I have to shoot a lot during the early and later hours of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)  I went out west to check on Jim Reynolds who is soloing Cosmos and found him cleaning a pitch he had lead.  The conditions are harsh out there and he continues climbing under tough circumstances.  Good on you Jim... keep it going man!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)  A two man team from Oregon and san Francisco, Justin and Geoff, are on the Nose behind the father and son team.  Here they are climbing the Boot to catch the other team a bit later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5)  The father and son team, of Scott and Matt Phillips, was the team moving slowly yesterday and I thought they might bail but they are sticking to their guns and continuing.  I talked to them a few days ago.  They will get faster as they go and with enough tenacity and determination will make the climb happen for them.  Here is Matt, I think, climbing the Texas Flake like I never seen anyone do it... but it worked and that's what counts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6)  Matt hauled the bags while Scott climbed to the top of the Flake. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7)  The King Swing went well for them and here they are lowering the bags out.  The Oregon teams leader can be seen climbing the Boot up to Scott.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8) Lower down on the Nose a team was spotted in the Legs later in the day... the wind was up most of the day as seen here in the rope dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9)  Over on Zodiac, Stevie and the boys from down south were pushing to get off the route today.  Steve got the call and lead the pitches in rapid order.  Here we see him leading off on the pitch to Peanut Ledge after a relatively early start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10) This shot finds Steve making Peanut Ledge as the light came on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11) DGriff jugging out to Peanut to get the freight hauling on point.  Lots of bags here!  They were off the route by dark and down the next afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12)  The Pitons on the island of St. Lucia, from our Catamaran off the coast.. winter Eastern Caribbean cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news:  The Korean team, from yesterday, low on Zodiac, was back on the third pitch this afternoon.  I am reminded of a lyric from the Doors song.. "Roadhouse Blues".... "The future's uncertain and the end is always near."  Hopefully these guys will catch their stride soon.

So that's the way it is, for this Wednesday, the 18th day of June, 2014.

Later, Capt. Tom