ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 6/11/11
By Tom Evans

Yo… Sweet one here today in the Valley.  High overcast made for good shooting and climbing too.  The Park was jammed but the traffic not so bad, as NPS Traffic abandoned the ridiculous road plan of Memorial day and went back to directing traffic with Rangers an helpers.   As always these folks work their asses off and made things move along, as they will do given the chance.  I hear the traffic got much worse later.  The Captain could use a few more teams!  Anyway, I need to get this done, as I am really tired this evening and need some shut eye.

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

Zodiac:  Ryan Baker was on the Mark of Zoro pitch as I arrived and was a pitch short of Peanut as I left.  He is climbing well and should be off tomorrow with time to spare for his work on Monday evening.

Ryan finishing the MOZ pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lower down the Korean team jugged to the high point and moved kit up.  They were on the Black Tower as I departed.

The whole Korean Team, from Team Extreme Riders,  on the BT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A team was seen fixing the first pitch in the afternoon.

ZM:  Mark lead two pitches while I was there and started on another as I was departing.  The old fella has a lot of energy and grit and is moving smartly along.

Mark off on another pitch in mid afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America Wall:  I heard rumors that Chris Bevins was on the route but have not spotted him yet.

Mescalito:  Mike Donaldson took a day off yesterday but was back on the route today.  I spotted him through the trees this afternoon as he lead toward Stork ledge.

Mike still in the woods but moving up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tribal Rite:  The three man Austrian team was climbing really well this morning and suddenly, mid Carrot pitch, bailed…anyone’s guess as to why.
Big SAR Andy said their Bros found out that their flight home was a couple of days earlier than they thought, so they may have celled them the bad news.

Austrian high point on the famous Carrot pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nose:  The masses from yesterday were mostly out of view, high in the upper dihedral, all morning until noon when they started to appear at the base of the last pitch on the way off the route.
A couple of teams were in the Stovelegs making slow but steady progress toward Dolt.
Colin and Cheyne did the route in 8:40 today with an eye on doing the link up with the Dome if things went well.

Cheyne leading the GR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colin short fixed and moving up on the GR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laura and Andrew climbing the last pitch on the Nose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random Dude free climbing above Camp 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muir:  Matt Seymour ledged up at the start of the nutting pitch and took the day off, just sitting around enjoying the position and solutitude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salathe:  The Catalonian team climbed the wet and slime to the Block while I was shooting this afternoon.  Sarah and Taylor topped out last night and this morning said the route a couple of pitches below and to the Block were really wet.

Lurking Fear:  Several teams are over there but I was unable to get out there to shoot them.

BAIL OF THE DAY!!!  The Austrians executed and smooth and efficient retreat from high on Tribal Rite this afternoon.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news:  The Bridge was very quiet in the morning but exploded in the afternoon.  Tourons and climbers appeared in vast numbers and milled around all afternoon.  As the traffic was going to be slow, I stayed at the Bridge until after 4pm this afternoon.  It was tiring but a really good time.  The river continues to rise.

So that’s the way it is, for this Saturday, the 11th day of June, 2011.
I’m out of here…
Tom