ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 9/24/11
By Tom Evans

Yo… Splendid day today …. Again… right up until a really blasting and ripping thunder storm plowed through the valley around 2:30pm.  It was a real rip snorter!  I went down to the Cap around 4pm to check, with various YOSAR personnel, on the situation.   A Touron called in that someone was in trouble and waving a red flag.  We scanned the entire rock and were able to get the witness to show us where the distressed party was located.  Turned out to be Piton Pete’s Junk show being hauled up that was mistakenly identified as a distress call.  Those guys have radios and cell phones and are way too savy to call for help during a thunder storm!  It is almost 6 pm now and the weather is calm.  Some teams bailed but most are continuing upward.

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

Zodiac:  Thor and Adrian bailed late yesterday and the solo, Jay, didn’t go up today.

Continental Drift:  Pete’s crew is out of the dark rock and onto the better quality stuff.  Callum was out on lead today and seemed to be moving along well.

1)  Callum leading away from the Junk show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)  Callum out past some bolts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mescalito:  I did spot Regan leading the 2nd pitch this afternoon, before the storm hit.  He was ledged up by the time I departed after the storm.

New Dawn:  Ryan Baker and Alex Evans started on the route today after fixing a couple.  They moved along well and were a pitch below LLL when the rain came.  After the rain they continued climbing.
  3)  Alex on the 4th pitch of ND.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Way higher Brant and Steve were nearing the big New Dawn (aka Harding Roof) Roof when the rains came.  They quickly got their ledge up and were snuggly under the big roof for the rain.
4)  Leading toward the big roof on New Dawn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5)  Hauling kit high on ND.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nose:  The three man team who climbed from Dolt to C5 yesterday were seen late in the afternoon heading up the last pitch.  Below them a NIAD team was moving smartly up the route.  
6)  Nice climbing on the Pancake Flake by the NIAD team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7)  Two of the three man crew talking it over while the leader goes into Camp 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lower down a couple of teams were in the Legs most of the day.  One reached Dolt as the storm broke and the other just had to wait it out.  They continued climbing toward Dolt after the rain subsided.  

Salathe:  Sarah Land and friend Taylor climbed nicely to the Ear and above by early afternoon.  The rain brought them down later in the evening.
8)  Sarah leading the chimney above HFL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah leading the pitch above the Ear while two guys getting the bail of the day award passed by… actually a good move considering the weather later!
9)  BAIL OF THE DAY!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher up I did see a team weathering the storm under the Roof at the start of the Salathe Headwall.  

In other news:  Lots of climbers at the Bridge today.  The two Russkies passed by and chatted briefly about their climb of the Shield.  They did have hammocks for the climb.  Adam, Bill, and Jordan came by early in the day and basked in the glory the their PO climb for the rest of the day.  Lots of others came and went and we all had a good time talking shit and drinking Cobras.  Ottawa Doug and friend Hugo came in later after doing the Leaning Tower yesterday and last night.  All in all it was a good time.

10)  Some of the Bridge Rats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11)  Adam, Aaron (drinking the Cobra, not on the team), Jordan, and Bill telling tales of glory on the Pacific Ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
So that’s the way it is for this Saturday, the 24th day of September, 2011.
Later Tom