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June 2009

ElCap Report 6/30/09

ElCap Report 6/30/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Well the day has come for the last ElCap Report of the Season.  It has been an unusual Spring here in the Valley in regards to the weather.  But that didn’t stop climbers from reaching deep into their dreams and making them come true.  Some of the world’s greatest climbers were seen on the Captain this season, and some of the most obscure climbers you never heard of got to share the spotlight, here on the ElCap Report.  For me it is always a rewarding experience to watch my fellow climbers as they express their passion and deal with their limitations on the greatest stage in all the world.  We saw speed climbers blazing their way up the cliff and we saw crawlers going at what seemed agonizingly slow paces.  Each climber had their own goals to reach and yet they were rewarded in quite similar ways.  That is one of the great things about our sport.  We congratulate all those who came forth with the courage and commitment to strive to be their best, no matter what the outcome.

ElCap Report 6/29/09

ElCap Report 6/29/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… nasty here at the bridge and the weather was bad too.  Lots of smoke from the “controlled burn” that seems to have turned into an “uncontrolled” burn.  The heat was full on today and the air was nasty.  But….the lads were sending on the Cap.  All the “long term” teams are a day or so from the top and there don’t seem to be any replacements.   So, it is just about over here and I have had just about had all the “fun” I can stand here at the bridge. 

ElCap Report 6/28/09

ElCap Report 6/28/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Pretty damn hot here today but everyone was going up anyway.   I talked to Scott, of the NIAD team who salvaged the Koreans off the Nose yesterday…  He said when he reached them at the Great Roof they told him in broken English that they were out of water and said “we are going to die” and made the classic knife across the throat sign.  That was enough to convince the lads that they should help them out!!  They did and the Koreans were able to jug off the route and get down in time to head out today for SF and their flight home.  Hopefully the Koreans will take the lesson to heart and not let that kind of thing happen again.

ElCap Report 6/27/09

ElCap Report 6/27/09
By Tom Evans
Yo.. Pretty nice here today but a little on the warm side.  A lot of the regulars have headed up to the high country to escape the heat and get some fresh mosquito bites.  The Nose was pretty busy today but all above ECT as the huge Korean party in the Legs were no longer on the wall… nice!  The rest of the routes are getting done at steady, if not fast pace. 

ElCap Report 6/26/09

ElCap Report 6/26/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… splendid here today with some smoke from a so called “controlled burn” out to the west.  Kind of warm on the Big Stone too.  The day started rather poorly with Holly Beck taking a plunge short fixing on the start of the Nose route.  She decked from about 40ft and had facial cuts that produced a lot of blood, a concussion, and a possible broken arm.  Fortunately her partner, Jeff Webb, is a SAR ranger and got to her fast and called in for a rescue.  She was taken down and flown out.  Werner reported that she was very alert and her legendary ability to talk, was not altered.  We are all wishing her the best of recoveries.

ElCap Report 6/25/09

ElCap Report 6/25/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Ok, I told you… now is the time for you to get with the program and come on out.  Pick any route you want…. Zodiac?  Empty.  The Trip?  Empty.  The Nose?  It will be empty tomorrow.  Salathe?  Empty.  The big Trades are all empty.  This is it!  If not now… when?  Beautiful here today with sunny skies and light winds.  The spring season is coming to a close and I will be leaving soon… yes, that’s right… only another week or so of the ECR and you will have to suffer through a long, hot summer with no ElCap fix… Be afraid, be very afraid!  If you have enjoyed all the great pics and on the spot reporting, then don’t be afraid to pony up a few bucks through the donate button on the left.  Any amount will be greatly appreciated and will go toward making this site continue through the fall.

ElCap Report 6/24/09

ElCap Report 6/24/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… The answer is “Yes“.  Your question was, “Is the weather perfect in the Valley these days?”  The sky is as blue as Kim Schmitz’s eyes.  The wind is as calm as Elik Sloan’s yoga class.  Wherever you are… is the wrong place.  You really need to be here. But since you can’t, then you force me to be your replacement eyes and ears.  So here I am, slugging it out every day, just for you, here at the gateway of adventure… the Iconic, yet mundane… ElCap Bridge.  The view is spectacular, the company, among the best to be found anywhere, and every day is a great day, to be remembered far into the future.  Someone had to do it… so.. old, broken down, little Tommy Evans picked up the ball and is struggling forward with optimism, as he slowly dissipates into the cosmic abyss.  Sounds like something Chongo would write!!

ElCap Report 6/23/09

ElCap Report 6/23/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… splendid day here… you missed it again didn’t you?  Lots of parties topping out today, so the routes are once again needing adventurers.  The weather has reached the early summer equilibrium, so now is the time to get that route in before the sweltering days of summer descend upon the place.
We had a nice hang at the bridge and I took some nice bridge shots …. But… wouldn’t you know… I forgot to put a memory card in my camera and thus lost all the shots.  Luke… those shots didn’t come out so we need to do them again if you are around tomorrow.

ElCap Report 6/22/09

ElCap Report 6/22/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Another gorgeous day here in the Valley of Adventure!  We talked about your not being here yesterday, so I will let you off the hook today.  Still… you missed it man!  Once again climbers are getting high on the routes and thus they are getting empty fast… more room for you my dedicated reader!
With the excellent weather set in, this is the time to head up on that big route you have been Jonesin for.  We here at the bridge are ready to record your glory days that, unfortunately, will be gone before you realize it.

ElCap Report 6/21/09

ElCap Report 6/21/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… All right… Listen up Pukes of all stripes… this was a way sweet day to be here in the Trench.  The weather was perfect… the climbing was perfect… the bridge was chocked with perfection… and where were you?
I don’t want to hear about it… if you weren’t here, then you blew another day of your life and some of you, by the laws of statistics, don’t have too many days left to blow.  So change your plans, take a break from your consumption based existence, lie to your boss, tell your friends you are going to rehab for a few weeks and by all means …. Get your sorry ass with the program, and come to the Valley of your dreams….. Yosemite.