ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 9/18/11
By Tom Evans

Yo… Couldn’t be nicer here folks.. Now is the time to come on down.  Still good action on the Cap and the Nose is getting empty, so you Noser’s take note.  Facelift is just a few days away with great evening shows and food and drink to match!  That assumes that you are willing to get out and about picking up trash.  You know the drill!

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

Zodiac:  I did see a guy leading the first pitch early in the afternoon.

Shortest Straw:  Nick and Kurt were going strong yesterday but bailed late in the day after receiving news that Kurt’s girlfriend was admitted to the hospital.  Hope she is doing ok by now.

1)  Trip:  The three person team has moved up into the long corners in the middle of the route.  They seem to have it going on thus far.
Hauling freight on the Trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continental Drift:  I did talk to Neill and Callum in the Café this morning.  They had come down to, of all things, get MORE supplies.  I didn’t think that was possible when climbing with Pete!
2)  Pete and Callum dealing with the show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PO Wall:  The boys did bivy on the Continental Shelf and were hard at it when I departed this afternoon.  So far so good.
3)  Jordan, Adam, and Bill talking smack on the Shelf first thing today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)  Jordan leading above the Shelf as Bill belays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mescalito:  Hugh and Duncan made the Bismarck ledge this morning and were fixing above as I departed this afternoon.  Two more days?
5)  Hauling and cleaning to the Bismarck Ramp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher up Phil Wesseler topped out early this afternoon.  He was wanting to learn about solo climbing and I am sure he is pretty tired of the whole thing as I type these lines.  Congratulations to you Phil.  You weathered several storms and kept plugging along no matter what!
6)  Phil topping out this afternoon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nose:  Two Belgian climbers, Jonas and Jasper, did the KS this morning but had a mishap on the pitch above and were forced to retire.  I gave them a beer at the Bridge and we chatted a while… still … they get the not so coveted …
7)  BAIL OF THE DAY!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10)  Lower down a team of three women, who had spent yesterday lounging on Dolt, after a forced bivy in the Legs, came down today…. So I guess we have another winner folks…. But this time on the distaff side.
BAIL OF THE DAY!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher up the two S. African women continued to move out ahead of the pack of two teams, one of three and another of two.  Things got a little tight above the Pancake Flake.
11)  Jammed belay, top of Pancake Flake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher still, the Belgian TV crew made the top this afternoon.  TV Tom Waes manned up again and lead the last pitch!  The man did good climbing, which was totally unexpected by the locals.  He earned his ascent of the Captain!
12)  Tom Waes giving the old fist pump on the top of the Nose this afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3D:  Turns out that the Timmy and Dave show, from yesterday, diverted to the 3D to avoid the perceived crowding on the Nose.  I saw them climbing above Gray Ledges this afternoon.
13)  Timmy O’Neill at the crossroads of the Muir and Shield.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salathe:  I caught a glimpse of Mayan on EC Spire but didn’t see her climb today.

Dihedral:  The three man team was seen climbing above “The Ledge” in the warm afternoon, mostly dressed in black and dark blue… I hate that!!
No pics for them!  Well I took a few but ….

Hole World:  Ammon and Richie continued to work along the western skyline all day.  They will be on the Pinnacle of Hammerdom by evening.
14)  Ammon looking for holes while Richie tends the belay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15)  Ammon hauling freight later in the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news:  Very quiet at the Bridge today, with few visitors.  Did chat with the Bailers of the Day for a while and all vowed to go back on the Cap!
The routes have plenty of room on them for your team so get your sorry butts in gear.  Had dinner with Anders, Leo and John last night… all of course are old timers.  We conversed about things old men like to talk about…
So that’s the way it is, for this Sunday, the 18th day of September, 2011.
See you later…
Tom