ElCap Report 10/6/2015

ElCap Report 10/6/15

By Tom Evans

Yo.. The great weather has produced a rush at the cliff.  The Nose and Salathe are loaded to the bursting point.  I took a ton of shots today and it was difficult picking, the ones I liked the most, from the group.  Everyone is doing fine up there, so if you don’t see a shot of someone you are interested in, then don’t worry about them!

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

1)  A couple of guys were over on Secret Passage seeing what is involved in doing that route.  Here they are on the Eagles Way portion, at the Seagull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)  On Zodiac, a team of Polish Alpine Association climbers are seen here on the Bolt ladder pitch. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher up Ted and Lance climbed off in early afternoon.

Lowest down, Ornolf and Justin climbed the first couple while I was shooting.

On the Trip, the Mikes were nearing the top when I departed.

3)  I think this shot of Callum Coldwell-Storry, at the right end of Big Sur Ledge, tells the tale… confidence!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)  Bug Wall:  Meg climbed off the Bismarck Ledge this morning and quickly dispatched that somewhat worrisome pitch.  Yeah Meg!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nose:  Crowded.  Several NIAD’s and many wall style teams on the route today.  Too many to follow very closely.

5)  Top of Sickle Ledge… crowded?  You make the call!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6)  Stephen on the pitch above Dolt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7)  The Jardine traverse was well travelled today, so as to avoid the cluster at ECT.  Here Tatsu and Jeff are making good time, up the corner above the traverse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8)  Another Jardine Traverse crew, skirting the crew on Texas Flake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9)  Australians Paul and Stephen on the start of the Jardine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10)  NIAD team on the Pancake Flake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11)  Same NIAD Team at the Changing Corners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12)  Shield:  Saku is moving rapidly up the Headwall and will be on Chicken Head Ledge by dark today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salathe:  Just as jammed as the Nose these days!  There was a SIAD team and a couple of Freerider attempts too.  Overall, it was a very crowded route today.

13)  To add to the confusion, a few “Drop Ins” came from the top to work the already crowded route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14)  Part of the crowd at the top of the ear… some going up.. some going down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15)  Lurking Fear:  Several teams are on the route these days.  One is out for a push among the usual wall style teams.  Here a random team is on the second pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16)  This USCG C-130 flies over the Valley from time to time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So that’s the way it is, for this Tuesday, the 6th day of October, 2015. 

Later, Capt. Tom

#15

That is really a stellar image Tom!!!!!!