ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 9/27/10

By Tom Evans

Yo… another warm day at the Bridge and even more so on the cliff. The action is continuing but not in abundance. The heat has brought a lot of good climbers down and postponed attempts by many others. Only the real hard asses remain… with the exception of those who started so long ago that the heat was a surprise.

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

Zodiac: The two man team topped out this afternoon after a good ascent of this popular of route.

Below them a couple of climbers bailed off the top of the second pitch this morning.

A Yosemite Legend is climbing solo on the route and will blast tomorrow.

Lost in America/Trip: The last three, of the Korean team, made it down this morning by tying three ropes together and rappin from the top of the 7^th pitch…. A long way down! An orderly retreat with such a large team is not always so smooth. Good work men!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Korean climber rapps the line to the deck.

 

Zenyatta Mondatta: Callun and Neil, fresh from a recent ascent of Mescalito, are stepping it up on this excellent route. They climbed the first pitch while I was there and I assume did more as the afternoon wore on.

NA Wall: Valley regulars, Dave Lane and Tommy Thompson have blasted on the route. I watched them through the trees as they headed to the top of the 4^th pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Lane belays at the top of the third on the NA.

　

Mescalito: The South African, Andrew Porter, was seen today heading to the Stork ledge. He seems to be going well and looks really smart in his yellow shirt. Seems that yellow is the new red on EC these days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solo on Mescalito.

 

New Dawn to what?  Two guys, Ryan Jennings and Kevin Cooper, Colorado boys, blasted on this route today after fixing a couple over two previous days.  They look pretty strong and fast.

Nose: The lower part has many staging, but few the price will pay for the top. The team from yesterday left ECT this morning and was climbing the Great Roof as I departed. They were in perfect position for some Moon shots this morning and two are seen below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boot Flake, climbers, and the Moon this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moon, ElCap, and climber.

Lower down a team in all white pressed up the Legs and were ECT bound as I left.

Much lower down some teams have fixed to Sickle and await cooler weather. Local hero, Scott Stowe and partner, Steve, are blasting from the ground and will stay at Sickle tonight in accordance with Scott’s regular plan for the Nose. Stowe commented as he departed… “heat, what heat?”

Albatross: Un-phased by yesterdays slow progress, Piton Pete waited until a bit after noon to get back up on the pitch he did part of, in a long afternoon yesterday. Chickenhead ledge for them tonight… maybe off tomorrow late… most likely in another day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete and JP pack up kit to leave the Canoe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bear taking a dip in the river near the EC Bridge today.

　

In other news: A pretty worked Korean team made it back to the Bridge this morning after the last three climbers rapped off. Two of the team had been sick for the last few days and with the heat only increasing the leaders of the team decided to bail… always a wise move when climbers are sick and continuing will only make things worse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Korean Team, posing for the camera as Lucho and Aaron look on.

Word came today that Sr. Posse member, Dave Turner took a plunge on the Dome yesterday and injured his ankle. He whipped 50ft as a small unit pulled on the last ZigZag pitch. He was able to get down from the top on crutches provided by YOSAR. We wish him a speedy recovery.

With little climbing to be seen the Touron population was sparse today. However, a good group of climbers hung out until I departed at around 3pm. Gareth, Duncan, and Sara were down from the Trip and basked in the glory all afternoon.

A special shout out goes to my Son, Tom, on his 38^th birthday. A finer Son one could not ask for… here’s to you Son… have a nice day… your loving Dad.

So that’s the way it is, in Yosemite, for this the 27^th day of September, 2010.

Later Tom