ElCap Reports

ElCap Report 10/15/12

By Tom Evans

Yo… The great days continue one after another, here in the Ditch.  Perfect Fall weather seems to have set in for some time.  Good activity on the cliff too.  These next two weeks will determine what kind of a season we have and thus far things are looking exceptional.  So come on out and enjoy some of the greatest granite in the world, in one of the world’s most beautiful settings. 

Don’t forget the 50^th anniversaryof the first ascent of the Dihedral Wall, to be celebrated this Saturday

 night, at 6:30pm, in the East Auditorium, here in Yosemite.  Ed Cooper will be giving a show about the ascent and other things too. 

So be sure to come on out to this YCA sponsored event.

ElCap Report 10/14/12

By Tom Evans

Yo…Continued excellent weather is bringing them out in droves now.  However, bailers are flourishing too!  The ElCap shuttle is a thing of the past, for the Fall season, so make arrangements to get your kit down to the Cap.   A little warm today, with very moderate winds.  Nights are pretty chilly but not as cold as the typical Fall night.

ElCap Report 10/13/12

By Tom Evans

Yo… Wow! The weather cleared last evening and today was just sensational! The definitive Fall day here in Yosemite. The line up is full of cars and the routes are getting so much action that it is difficult to keep track of what is going on. The ElCap Shuttle ends tomorrow so factor that into your plans. I took over 200 shots today and under my “Best of the Day” were 48 shots… for space reasons, I can’t use a lot of the shots I liked so the ones below are representative of the days work. The lighting was fantastic, so you are in for some cool stuff.

ElCap Report 10/12/12

By Tom Evans

Yo.. The weather has not been much to talk about thus far. The “storm” is hardly that. Sprinkles every few hours with no real accumulation. People were climbing on the Captain today and you can read all about it below.

ElCap Report 10/11/12
By Tom Evans

Yo… The weather is the story here… storm threatened… storm came … barely a drizzle for only a couple of hours.  We haven’t had any rain all season, so we needed a good one to settle the dust and clean my van.  When I arrived at the Bridge, around 9am, the sky looked like the world was going to end… but nothing happened until about 11.  Then, a few periods of light drizzle ended with partly cloudy skies around 2pm.  That said, the teams on the wall were ledged up, ready for the worst.  The whole thing is supposed to pass by mid day tomorrow.  Rats!  I needed a day off!  It could still pour tonight!

ElCap Report 10/10/12
By Tom Evans

Yo… Nice in the mornings but windy and colder in the afternoons.  However, the base of the Cap finds very nice conditions, all day.  We have had a little shower this evening that mostly wet the pavement.  Rain is expected for tonight and showers for tomorrow.  The Captain is relatively empty at the moment with several teams climbing off before the light showers this evening.  I enjoyed shooting in mixed light today.  Bright shade from high clouds makes for some detailed shots into corners that would normally be blown out.  Tommy Caldwell and wife Becca arrived this morning to work his long standing project on the Dawn Wall.  He is partnered with Jonathan Seagrist for this Fall.  Best of luck Tommy and Jonathan!

ElCap Report 10/09/12
By Tom Evans

Yo… lots of climbers still on the Stone.  However there looks to be a low probability that it could rain in the next couple of days.  So the cautious are holding back a bit while the driven are headed up.  The SE Face is still empty from Mescalito, east.  Polish hero, Marek Raganowicz, fresh from a epic ascent of the Polar Sun Spire, Baffin Island, is here to solo Native Son, starting in 2 days.  Old timer Mark Hudon, just down from Lost in America, is also going on Native Son, but with recently famous, Cheyne Lempe.  The whole face is empty and both teams are going on the same route!!  Such is Yosemite climbing!

ElCap Report 10/08/12
By Tom Evans

Yo… Cold weather arrived today on the back of a hard wind from the west.  The puffy’s were out and the ropes were whipping about on the SW Face’s Headwall.  However the action was good on the Cap and more teams are pressing forward.  Rain and possible snow are in the forecast for the end of the week.  So we will see what develops.  

ElCap Report 10/07/12
By Tom Evans

Yo…Splendid weather has produced some great climbing and photos … so stay tuned for more of the same.  Traffic at the Bridge has slacked off in the Touron department but the number of climbers is growing.  
I am running real late today as I took many shots today so I will get right to it.

ElCap Report 10/06/12
By Tom Evans

Yo… Wow!!!  Fall is here and you know how they say to be careful what you ask for as you just might get it?  I got it!!  The thundering herds broke from the Bridge and the Captain is suddenly loaded to the brim!  So many climbers that I can’t keep track of what is happening on the Bigs.  Great light and some bright colors made for almost 300 shots today.  It has taken me over three hours just to process the images and pick the ones for the Report!  My file of shots to save numbers over 80 today!  Great stuff, but a lot of work and a late night at the computer.  Plus the Bridge was jammed with Tourons and I was glad that some of the Crew stepped up and took some questions.