ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 12/29/14  SPECIAL DAWN WALL EDITION

Brought to you by “Adidas Outdoor.”

By Tom Evans

Yo… Nice wall weather with crisp blue skies and little wind.  The team climbed today, even though they had planned a day off to rest and give Kevin’s two split finger tips a chance to heal a bit.

I pulled into the line-up around 9am and spotted Alex Honnold’s van, parked just behind Tommy’s Sprinter.  Mmmm … Honnold… what is he up to now?  Maybe he is going to flash up the fixed lines and give the boys a visit at The Camp!  I set up the camera in a spot where I figured the sun would soon appear, and looked to see what I could see on the wall.

ElCap Report 12/28/14   SPECIAL DAWN WALL EDITION

Brought to you by Adidas Outdoor.

By Tom Evans

Yo… Split weather here … On the Cap it is springtime.. in the meadow it is winter!  The Free Dawn Wall, 7 years in the making, is in day 2 of the continuous push to complete the route.  I spend most of my days here standing in the environs of the EC meadow waiting for something to happen!  No other climbers are on EC now, so mostly I wait, and fight off the cold.  The meadow does get sun from about 10am until 12 noon and actually it is quite pleasant… but the moment the Middle Cathedral Rock shadow arrives the temperature drops 40 degrees… amazing really.  By dark… around 5pm, the cold is intense and I get the hell out of there!  With the temperature inversion, common in the winter, it is much warmer just 500ft above the valley floor than in the meadow.

ElCap Report 12/27/14  SPECIAL DAWN WALL EDITION!!

Brought to you by “Adidas Outdoor”.

By Tom Evans

Yo… Nope, you are not seeing things, Cubicle Pukes!  I am here in the cold of Yosemite winter!  Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson are making, what we all hope is the final, and successful push to finish the most difficult big wall free climb ever done!  I am here for several days, to shoot the climb, and provide some moral support for the guys!! 

So grab that eggnog, put the dog out, and tell your loved ones that you need a little “time out” to hang with the pros, on the Big Stone!  History is being made and you can see it as it happens, directly from the meadow, only on the ElCap Report!

ElCap Report 10/28/14

By Tom Evans

Yo… What a beautiful day to end the shooting season!  Great weather has been the hallmark of fall season, 2014.  I will be leaving tomorrow, so this is the last report of the year.  I hope you have enjoyed reading and seeing the exploits of all the climbers who came and climbed on the greatest climbing rock on the planet… our own… El Capitan.  If you got pics or have not donated to the site, I hope you will consider doing so, as the expense of doing photography and the report is great.  Many thanks to all who have supported the site, and what I do here.

ElCap Report 10/27/14

By Tom Evans

Yo… Another killer day in Yosemite, is in the books.  The Nose has regained its popularity, as has the Salathe/Freerider.  Libby and Mayan are making another run tomorrow, starting at 7:30am, so come on down and see the climbing for yourself.

ElCap Report 10/26/14

By Tom Evans

Yo… The rain came and went in an hour or so last evening with about 12 drops reported to have actually hit the ground!  Today was breezy and sunny.  The action on the hill was light, as the fearful cowered in their hovels yesterday, awaiting their demise by drowning.   Tuesday will see the girls back on the Nose for another run.  I was mistaken yesterday, as they didn’t start at 6 but 7am.  So their time was within a few minutes of their present record.  Their plan is to take an hour or so off the record, not just break it.  Stay tuned. 

ElCap Report 10/25/14

By Tom Evans

Yo.. Nice day here until some high wind and low clouds came in around 3pm and by 5 we had some showers.  Clear tomorrow they say.  Chantel was cooking along, in more ways than one, yesterday.  She had a great time going on her attempt to do the first woman’s solo NIAD, yesterday.   Unfortunately it was unusually warm yesterday, with little wind on the cliff, and she ran out of water at Camp 4 with still over 1200ft to climb.  She was forced to switch to survival mode and ended up a couple hours over 24.  She did run into a team high on the wall but as a solo decided not to ask for water.  It was a great effort on her part and she is disappointed for sure, but will be back in the Spring.

ElCap Report 10/24/14

By Tom Evans

Yo… They say it will rain tomorrow… judging from today I don’t really see how that can happen… it was another blue bird day in the Valley!  It was a big day here with interesting climbing all over the rock.  Tomorrow Libby and Mayan are going for an improved speed woman’s record on the Nose.  Chantel is still on the rock as I type these words… but she was killing it all day so hopes are high she got the first woman’s solo of the Nose in a day.  See the shots below!

ElCap Report 10/23/14

By Tom Evans

Yo..We had another beautiful day here at the vortex, of the epicenter, of the universe.  Nice climbing up on the hill and you will see some cool shots in this report.  Tomorrow Chantel is back on the Nose going for the woman’s solo record.  I talked with her in the meadow and we discussed a few things in a general way.  She feels much better than a couple of days ago.  You go girl!!

ElCap Report 10/22/14

By Tom Evans

Yo… Nice action on the hill today!  The girls day out, took an unexpected turn this morning as Chantel had some difficulties getting in the groove, so early in the morning.  She dropped some gear and then took a long fall off the 2^nd pitch.  She wisely concluded that discretion is the better part of valor and came down to go another day.  Libby and Mayan had a nice run at a leisurely pace for them.  Mayan has been ill for a couple of weeks and has not completely recovered.  I don’t know their time but I would guess between 9 and 11 hours.  Chantel has plans to go back on Friday.