ElCap Report 9/20/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Killer weather and the wall is pretty empty save the Salathe and upper Nose.  Get here and get on it!  Plus the Face Lift is just a couple of days away now… come on up and put some effort into keeping the park looking good.  Sundays are always kind of slow at the Bridge and today was no exception.  Nice to have some quiet for a change.
Today’s ElCap Report just for your eyes only… remember .. It’s unique in all the world.

ElCap Report 9/19/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Kind of cloudy today in the Valley today with some sun from time to time.  The temps were moderate with some light wind.  More and more climbers are arriving for the Fall season now and many plans are afloat.  The climbers on the Trades are getting to the top now and the replacements are few and far between it seems.  But you never know because a lot of climbers just come in and head up to the cliff without stopping by the Bridge.  The Nose is still seeing a 50% bail rate, mostly from first timers who seem to be in the grip of FEAR when they enter the Legs.  Someone has fixed a line from the first Stoveleg pitch and that seems to funnel lots of the bailers to the ground.  The Salathe is actually the most crowded at the moment with wall climbers and free climbers climbing side by side.

ElCap Report 9/18/09
By Tom Evans
Yo.. Another killer day at the bridge!  Pretty quiet in the morning but by afternoon lots of climbers showed up to hang out and enjoy watching the teams climbing on the Captain.  As you can imagine the Bridge Crew is a pretty tough audience and not much gets by them.  So the slander and humor were freely flowing.  The big Trades are getting all the action and they are far from full.  More and more of the regulars are coming in for the Fall season and if this weather is any indication then we should have many good days to bask in the glory of the Captains light.

ElCap Report 9/17/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Unbelievable weather today.  The air was crisp, the breeze cooling, and the sun warm.  Lots of action on the upper east side of the great rock.
There is much to write about today so I will get right to the point.
Today’s ElCap Report…

ElCap Report 9/16/09
By Tom Evans
Yo.. Another killer day here in the Valley!  The Big Stone is drawing them in now so any of you hiding behind your Momma’s skirt need to get with the program… there is room for you on the Captain.  You know I don’t much care to hang around the bridge if there is nothing to shoot so get on it now and avoid the late September crunch.  The Face lift is just a few days away so plan to work on it and then stay a few days extra and squeeze in that EC route you have been wanting to do.  The upper east side is seeing some action but the really big Trades on the lower east side are languishing in disuse.  So let's see some haul bags hanging over there soon.

ElCap Report 9/15/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… Wow what a sweet day here in the Valley!!!  The Fall climbing season has officially started.  I don’t remember a more perfect day for climbing in the Yosemite Valley than today was.  Of course, this also means that those holding back for some reason now have to pony up or shut up.  We had good action today on several routes and more is coming as the lurkers have come out of the woodwork to play the big game.
Today’s report is brought to you by Hayden and JT who I watched climb the Nose with daylight to spare today!!
Here it is without the usual BS I spew…. Today’s ElCap Report… happening now…

ElCap Report 9/14/09
By Tom Evans
Yo… our long national nightmare is finally over and there is rejoicing here in the Valley and on the internet… Why?  Because I am finally at my station at the legendary ElCap Bridge, climbing’s most important span.  I came up yesterday and did some shooting but the drive was long and I was not up to grinding out the ECR for yesterday.  I had a good summer and was able to get another big lens and a new camera and various other things photographic.  I spend a ton of money and really appreciated those of you who donated to the site as it covered nearly half of what I spent.  Unfortunately I botched the new camera settings and most of the shots I took today had a puke green tint to them… not good, not good at all.  I salvaged a few and changed the camera settings, so tomorrow will be better I hope!  Plus some of the shots were improperly oriented... like the first 4 and I have not figured out a way to fix the pics... I will come back  and see what can be done.... but don't hold your breath!