ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 9/23/17

By Tom Evans

Yo.. I have been here three days thus far and we have had rain, hail, sleet, snow, and wind…with a couple nice mornings and afternoons thrown in, but not together.  The extended forecast looks promising.  The bad weather has not kept climbers off the wall, unless they were low enough to rap to the deck when the weather came in strong.  The Nose has been pretty loaded but has slacked off a bit with the cold weather.  Some interesting routes are being climbed at the moment, so I will keep you posted.  I haven’t been here long enough to get any scenic shots so this report will be just climbing shots.  If see yourself or anyone in these shots that you know please let me know, in the comments section below, so I can add them in the appropriate shots.  Thanks!

Since I am only writing reports every few days I will not be able to include shots and information on all the parties, so if you don’t see your friends mentioned… sorry about that.  Please donate to the site if you can as it is expensive to be here in the Valley and I could use some help!  If you got shots from me and haven't donated please consider doing so.  Many thanks!  If you see yourself 

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

1)  Storm moving in high on the Salathe Wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)  First light feels pretty good after a cold night on the Freerider.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)  Climbers on the Salathe headwall after storm bound night on the Block.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)  Later in the day this team is heading to Long Ledge, Salathe Wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5)  This two-man team were able to keep out of the weather by staying under overhanging rock. Roof pitch on the Shield.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6)  Next day the Shield team tackled the notorious Groove Pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7)  Later in the day the Shield team did the Triple Cracks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8)  The Nose has been packed the last couple of weeks but the weather has cleared off all but the hardiest teams.  This team climbed past the King Swing on their second day but bailed after that.  Here they are going to Dolt Tower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9)  Stylish King Swing for this speedy team that topped out before the weather caved in. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10)  An Spanish team is climbing on Mescalito…They are father and son team Jan and Miguel Cases.... unfortunately they seem to think Black is the color of the season… NO!!!!  This shot is on the 8^th pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11)  They did a nice job on the Molar Traverse Pendulum.  Mescalito.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12)  Out west a local crew is climbing on Aquarian.  Now this climber has the color thing all figured out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13)  Slab climbing on Aquarian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14)  John Rigg is leading while Chris Trull belays on what will be the 3^rd ascent of Disorderly Conduct.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15)  Solo climber, Tom, jugging the first on Zodiac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16)  Solo climber, Tom, leading the Black Tower pitch on Zodiac.  He never soloed before and had little experience aid climbing.  He did well but retreated from the top of the pitch after two wet, cold nights on the route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other teams are on the Waterfall Route, Sunkist, 3D, and the Muir.

So that’s the way it is, on this Saturday, the 23^rd day of Sept. 2017.

Capt. Tom… back in the ElCap Meadow… just for you!