ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 9/22/14

By Tom Evans

Yo… Spectacular weather has moved into the Valley with clear skies and cool temperatures.  Yes!!  The Face Lift is on this week so you can forget about camping unless you have made reservations in advance.  Most of the action continues to be on trade routes.

 

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

Bad to the Bone:  Pete sent his buddies, from Canada, Dom and John up to climb some pitches while he spent the day lounging at camp.  The boys moved right along in good form.

1)  Dom and John getting it done on Bad to the Bone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zodiac:  The team fixing low yesterday sent a member up who cleared the ropes as he bailed.

Higher up the mixed team climbed into the White Circle this morning and into the afternoon.

2)  Climbing toward the start of the Circle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)  Leading the pitch up to the start of the Nipple pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mescalito:  The “Love Dad” team, of Justin and Scott, pushed hard yesterday afternoon and eventually made the Bismarck Ledge for the bivy.  Today they climbed off that ledge and were heading toward the Bow when I left.  The men looked solid as they have all the way up the route.

4)  Leading off the Bismarck this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nose:  Several teams are on this American Classic.

5)  YOSAR women Josie and Diana climbed rapidly today in hopes of doing a NIAD.  Here they are finishing the King Swing with a little help to speed things along.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6)  Late in the afternoon I spotted the Japanese team high in the upper dihedral.  Off tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The team who climbed from Dolt yesterday, did the Great Roof this morning and were heading into Camp 5 as I departed.  They look solid if not fast.

Lower down a team was working its way up the Legs as I departed.

 

Salathe:  This route is the second most popular on the rock at the moment.  I did spot a team high on the route heading to the Block.

Below them a team, from yesterday, climbed the Ear and were headed to the Spire as I finished shooting.

7)   Finishing the Ear pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8)  Climbing the short pitch into the Alcove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There has been a team slowly climbing the right side of ElCap Tower over the last several days.  We figured they would bail ages ago but they stuck it out to the top of the Tower and today get congratulations for … wait for it…. OK

9)  BAIL OF THE DAY!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news:  Not much news to write about with the exception of the Face Lift… come on out and lend a helping hand!

So that’s the way it is, for this Monday, the 22^nd day of September, 2014.

Later,

Capt. Tom