ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 6/26/07

 By Tom Evans

Yo... sweet day down here in the glory hole.. weather was super, company super, climbers sending in super style, Epic Ed's chili was mega super as the man provided for all comers, beer, soft drinks, chili... tons of people here today too with many super taco's present and accounted for.. nice day to live the life in the shade of the most important of all grade separation devices in all of climberdom... Tues is a great memory for all of us here... and how was it for you my devoted readers? Another day exchanged for the legal tender? Forgettable? Well it is your fault!  Suck it up and get some glory days to remember of your own.

Anyway, fresh off Epic Ed's grill and brought to you in the pack of one gorgeous woman from Finland, who's true love was half way up the nose...comes today’s ElCap Report... so throw down, saddle up, ride it hard and put it up wet... here it is .... Today’s ElCap Report...Your literary passport to adventure ....

Zodiac: Came down early to shoot these 3 Korean men on the nipple pitch of this great route... they moved deliberately along on the pitch and were last seen at 6pm when I left finishing up the Mark of Zorro pitch... persistent lot those... Did see a solo lead and clean the first pitch today...

The Ranch: Talked to Pete and Kate today on the radio... they had a long day yesterday with Kate putting in a stellar day on the sharp end... they finally got to bed around 3am and were sleeping late this morning... Pete had some issues with his too soon departure flight but Brenda came to the rescue by changing the flight for several days. Other than that they sounded great and having a great time on the greatest wall in the world for pure Rock climbing...they are finishing on the NA wall..

Mescalito: The team was seen this morning talking to two women who were jugging the big rap line and stopped at their level but out in space quite a ways... they took pics of each other then the women continued to jug the entire height of ElCap in 2 plus hours! The Mescalito crew are moving right along...

Nose: The big story continues to be Canadian Kyle and Klaus....the noobees who are getting the job done in fine style on this great route... saw Kyle lead the great roof and Klaus make short work of the pancake flake... last saw them heading off on the pitch to the glowering spot aiming for camp 6 for the bivy. The Fins were seen climbing to Texas flake in the morning and doing the king swing in the afternoon.. looked in command of the situation... they were climbing into the gray bands when I left aiming for camp 4 tonight. The 3 Koreans are climbing slowly but deliberately and after a bivy on Dolt moved to ElCap tower and on to the boot flake by the time I left.. Didn’t stay for the king swing ... where they will bivy is anyone’s guess...

Salathe: Did see Oli and Chris climb from Hollow flake to the crack leading to the alcove today... seemed to be fine..

In other news:  That is the story for today’s climbing on the Captain... nice time, no bailers, lots of food and friendship here at the bridge.. another day well spent here... Hope you are doing as well as we are and that you will take us up on the invitation to join us... I will be gone in a few days so you had better come by soon... but I am not the attraction here.. it is all the folks just hanging out and having good friendships and conversations... keep the scene alive while I am gone and I will be ready for the fall season and more good times here...

So that's the way it is here at the bridge for June 26, 2007...enjoy your evening and tell someone special that you care about them....

Signing off for now... ElCap-Pics