ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 6/04/12

By Tom Evans

Yo… splendid morning here.. Looked so good we all figured the rain threat was just that… a threat but nothing much. By 2pm it was dark and foggy with low clouds scudding along the top of the Cap. By three it was pouring rain! It is supposed to clear up by 11pm and tomorrow be clear.

Not much action on the face today as everyone is waiting it out until tomorrow. However those high on the face will have to deal with the weather.

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

Zodiac: The multitudes have arrived at this neglected route. A party was climbing and hauling kit to the top of 4 when I left and two were doing the reg and direct starts. Fixing mostly it looked like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)  Leader finishing up on the 4^th pitch.

　

　

Trip: The team from yesterday vanished.

Pacific Ocean Wall: My Korean buddies from the Team Extreme Riders is on the route for good now and were seen leading the 4^th pitch this afternoon before I departed. They are In Chul Kang, No Beom Park, Ju Young Kim, and Han Byul Kang, aka Chris Kang. These guys are excellent climbers and should be up to the test although they are convinced they can do it on 2 liters of water a day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)  Korean team of leaders starting the 4^th pitch.

　

　

　

Tribal: I saw the Old German Team leading the last pitch around 1pm and they will be getting hosed as I type these lines. They did stay on the nice ledge two from the top and will most likely camp on top tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)  German team leading off the ledge two from the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)  Iron Hawk:  Mark Hudon leading off this morning.

　

　

New Dawn: The solo, French Canadian, Francis Perrault, is entering the cool looking upper dihedrals leading to the Dawn Roof. He is well protected and should weather the storm just fine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5)  Francis, climbing toward the upper dihedrals on New Dawn.

　

　

　

Nose: The Ecuadorian team from yesterday bailed from Grey ledges yesterday. Good idea it turns out!

Lower down several parties are poised to hit the ropes in the morning.

GR to Muir: I haven’t seen Pete climbing anything in the past two days but I am not there all the time as you know. He is not in a good position for the storm but old Pete seems to be able to handle whatever comes his way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6)  Pete and Mark are apparently not too worried about the impending storm.

　

　

　

Shield: Ben Doyle and Bronson Hovnanian are on Mammoth now waiting to go up on the route. The team from yesterday was seen above Chicken Head ledge this morning… I didn’t see them climb off.

Salathe: I did see the team from yesterday climb above the Spire toward the Block when I departed today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7)  Climbing off ECSpire early in the morning.

　

　

In other news: Rain is the other news today. Cold and wet at the Bridge. We await the dawn of a clear and warm day!

So that’s the way it is for this Monday, the 4^th day of June, 2012.

Retreat to the Bar is in order… diet cola and some chips please!

Tom Evans