ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 10/20/15  This is the last report of the Fall season.

By Tom Evans

Yo… It is very windy this evening....the first time I can recall the wind severely buffeting tents, in camp 4.  Hopefully those up high can get out of it tonight.  It should abate by morning.  The climbing season is far from over but my reporting season is over today, due to other obligations.  I will still be around shooting ElCap until I leave on the 26th of this month.  If you have enjoyed the commentary and hundreds of shots I have posted this season, then please consider donating to the site, as I have spent several thousand bucks on better lenses and cameras and it is very expensive staying here in Yosemite.  Your interest in those on ElCap, and the shots I post, are what have made this site what it is… thanks for your support!

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

1)  ElCap, taken from the meadow this morning… this gigantic rock provides so many of us with our dreams and aspirations.  See you again in the Spring ElCap!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1A)  Taking a lesson from the Nose, Zodiac is now having its own traffic jams!  At the start of the 4^th pitch I saw a cluster of climbers and bags this morning.  Several teams are on the route now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)  Tito, worst dressed climber on Zodiac, is seen here on the flying buttress pitch, while his partner, Shayde, is belaying below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)  Over on ZM, two solo climbers met up at the end of the first pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

El Nino has a team of two on it now.

4)  Sea of Dreams:  Paul and Steve are motoring along in good time.  Here Paul, who has suddenly gone black, is leading the Bull Dyke pitch, while Steve tends the belay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5)  Sean, the Brit, is solo on South Seas to Pacific Ocean route.  Here he is at the start of the 4^th pitch this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6)  Sean leading the 5^th on SSPO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tempest:  I did spot Pete just starting to lead around 2pm today.  They have been gone many days and are about half way up the route now.  Maybe I can shoot them in the spring when they top out!  So far, it’s all good for this team of unique personalities!

 

7)  Genesis:  Mark Hudon is seen here leading the second pitch above the Boot as Skot Richards belays.  This is a beautiful climb to watch and shoot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8)  Higher, Skot, is leading below some interesting, rather sinister looking, features.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9)  There are endless parties on the Nose and all are doing fine.  Here a team is working the Boot Flake while Skot looks on from Genesis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did see a party crossing over on the 3D this afternoon.

10)  Over on El Corazon, Alex sent the Golden Desert pitch this afternoon with little apparent effort.. nice lead!  Chris was having some difficulty and I don’t know if he finally got the send.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11)  The Salathe/Freerider had a lot of traffic today as several teams made a run at the Monster crack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12)  The route had its own traffic jam on the Ear today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13)  Lower down, a collection of climbers talked it over, while waiting their turn, on Lung ledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news:  I will be around, shooting, for several more days… if something important happens I will post a special report.  Otherwise.. have your climbing friends and loved ones contact you on their phones, for their latest updates.

I will see you again in the Spring when the grass is green and the falls are booming.  Until then, stay safe my friends, enjoy this wonderful life we have here on our exceptional planet.  I thank you for the opportunity to be your link to those who venture out on the greatest climbing rock in the world…our own El Capitan!!

Capt. Tom.. signing off, from the ElCap Meadow.