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The approach
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Date: 09/12/2007
Views: 4
It's about a twenty minute hike to the base of El Capitan from El Cap Meadow- compared to Half Dome this was unbelievable!
09/12/2007
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At the base
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Date: 09/12/2007
Views: 2
El Capitan looms 3000ft. overhead, an awe inspiring sight.
09/12/2007
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The start of The Nose
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Date: 09/13/2007
Views: 3
200 ft. of 4th class gets you to the start of the technical climbing. Just 31 pitches from here to the top!
09/13/2007
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Chris leading the first pitch
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Date: 09/13/2007
Views: 1
The first 4 pitches reach the first major ledge system, called sickle ledge. Some parties fix ropes to sickle on the first day and then sleep on the ground. We opted to climb through to either Dolt Tower (pitch 11) or El Cap Tower (pitch 14)
09/13/2007
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Messy Anchor
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Date: 09/13/2007
Views: 2
Anchors quickly become cluttered with all of the gear associated with aid climbing. We mostly avoided big snafu's, but did get our share of stuck ropes and stuck haul bags.
09/13/2007
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Neal leads pitch 6
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Date: 09/12/2007
Views: 2
From sickle ledge the route traverses far to the right in a series of pendulum swings. Here I am climbing up to a pendulum point from which I will swing over to the next crack system to the right.
09/12/2007
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Darkness!
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Date: 09/12/2007
Views: 1
200 feet below Dolt Tower I am starting the last 2 pitches to Dolt Tower, climbing by headlamp. We arrived at Dolt around midnight after about 14 hours of climbing.
09/12/2007
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Day 2- leaving dolt tower
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Date: 09/14/2007
Views: 1
Looking down at Dolt Tower, our bivy spot on the first night. It is just 3 moderate pitches from Dolt to El Cap Tower, which is the biggest ledge on the route.
09/14/2007
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Neal cleaning on pitch 12
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Date: 09/13/2007
Views: 2
The second climber ascends the fixed lead line and removes the gear that was left by the leader for protection in case of a fall. The leader hauls the bag with the haul line while the second is cleaning the pitch.
09/13/2007
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Starting pitch 15, with the monster rack
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Date: 09/13/2007
Views: 2
09/13/2007
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Chris jugging up the chimney behind Texas Flake
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Date: 09/14/2007
Views: 9
09/14/2007
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Looking down at El Cap Tower
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Date: 09/14/2007
Views: 3
09/14/2007
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Bolt Ladder at start of the Boot Flake pitch
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Date: 09/13/2007
Views: 2
09/13/2007
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Chris perched on the Texas Flake
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Date: 09/14/2007
Views: 4
09/14/2007
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Looking down from the Boot Flake
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Date: 09/14/2007
Views: 3
09/14/2007
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Chris moments before cutting loose from the lower-out while following the King Swing pitch
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09/14/2007
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Camp IV, with El Cap Meadow far below
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Date: 09/14/2007
Views: 1
This is where we spent the second night, sharing the tiny ledge with a team of 3 spanish guys.
09/14/2007
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El Cap Meadow and Middle Cathedral Rock
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Date: 09/15/2007
Views: 5
09/15/2007
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Short free climbing pitch below The Great Roof.
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Date: 09/14/2007
Views: 3
The Spanish team in front of us is visible just past the Great Roof.
09/14/2007
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The Great Roof
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Date: 09/15/2007
Views: 3
The route follows the crack on the right-hand side
09/15/2007
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Chris heading up to the Great Roof
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Date: 09/15/2007
Views: 3
09/15/2007
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Neal cleaning the Great Roof pitch (pitch 22)
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09/14/2007
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Chris on the Pancacke Flake pitch (pitch 23)
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Date: 09/15/2007
Views: 2
09/15/2007
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Neal above camp V (pitch 25)
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Date: 09/14/2007
Views: 1
09/14/2007
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Camp VI bivy
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Date: 09/16/2007
Views: 3
09/16/2007
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Looking down from the top of pitch 28
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Date: 09/16/2007
Views: 1
09/16/2007
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Chris jugging fixed lines on the morning of the 4th day
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09/16/2007
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Neal arrives at the "wild stance", pitch 29
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Date: 09/15/2007
Views: 4
09/15/2007
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The top
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Date: 09/16/2007
Views: 1
09/16/2007
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Chris surfing his way back down to the valley
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Date: 09/16/2007
Views: 4
09/16/2007
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Tree with Half Dome and Clouds Rest behind
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Date: 09/16/2007
Views: 1
09/16/2007
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