ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 10/17/10
By Tom Evans
Yo… Well the forecast rain did show up today.  Thus far it has just been short showers of low intensity.  The teams on the Cap look a bit on the cold side but none seem to be wet.  I just had to stop by the Tree again today as it is looking so good in the flat light and lots of people were admiring it.  So you are going to get some more tree shots, in addition to the climbing shots.

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

ZM:  The lads made a couple more pitches yesterday and were working on the second one of today as I departed around 2pm.  They are set to climb off tomorrow, even if they don’t get any more climbed today.  They looked cold but not wet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul leading over some interesting looking rock on ZM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremy on the sharp end, on a cold, cloudy afternoon.

 

 

VA/Trip:  Zack and Skully stayed on the route last night, as the wall is way steep and they are protected from the rain.  Skully lead off today and was just about to the belay as I departed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skully clipping some rivets on VA.

 

 

Iron Son:  The Party Crew was up and at it by the time I arrived.  They are covering huge amounts of real estate with the system they are using.  They were climbing toward the Golden Nipple when I departed.  They could be off today but it will be an effort that will run late into the evening.  They are now in the so called “wet zone” and need to get off today or chance getting soaked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Running for the top on a threatening day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last man up gets some big air jugging time.

Shield:  The lads are ledged up with some wind and rain blowing on them from time to time.  John got out of the ledge and lead the next pitch, and was back down by the time I departed.  Max Jones and family came by and we chatted for a time.  He didn’t seem to be very envious of Mark up there on the wall!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Fine lost the coin toss and had to go out and lead another pitch.  It was partly sunny and looked comfortable when he started, but soon the clouds and cold sent him scurrying back to the belay!

Aquarian:  Pete and Kate got two more fixed yesterday and spent the part of the day I was watching, hauling loads to the new high point.  They appear to be in a pretty good spot and shouldn’t get too much water on them if it opens up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate getting kit ready to haul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete hauling his kit to the high point.

The Tree:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news:  The rain has been pretty mild thus far and may be going away by tomorrow.  There is still a climbing season to finish out and it is too early to pack it in… I hope!
So that’s the way it is, on ElCap, for this Sunday, the 17th day of October, 2010.
Later Dude,
Tom