Tangerine Trip and Zenyatta Mondatta Affected by Rockfall

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Lambone

Big Wall climber

Ashland, Or

Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 22, 2017 - 11:01am PT

Starting a new thread on this just to keep the word out through the season.

We witnessed 2 major rockfall events, one on each route. Around Pitch 2 of Tangerine Trip on 10/11/17, and pitch 5 of Zenyatta Mondatta on 10/16/17.

These pitches will be entirely different then the topo suggests and loose as all-get-out.

On 10/10/17 Hayden abandoned a rope and hardware on P2 of T-Trip fearing for his life in a hasty bail as a huge slab was creaking and groaning.

ZM p5 Rockfall as we witnessed it from Zodiac, which apparently went right over the head of a soloist fixing at the base!

Careful out there folks! YER GUNNA DIE!

zip

Trad climber

pacific beach, ca

Oct 22, 2017 - 12:06pm PT

WOAH!
Thanks.
Isn't it a little crazy to be up there right now?

ionlyski

Trad climber

Polebridge, Montana

Oct 22, 2017 - 12:25pm PT

Is El Cap a choss pile? Stupid question I'm sure. I've never even climbed on it but knew someone who died a few years ago when a block cut loose. Just seems like it's raining down rock all the time and so I ask.

Is it kinda chossy?

Arne

Lambone

Big Wall climber

Ashland, Or

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 22, 2017 - 12:30pm PT

Is El Cap chossy? Hell ya it is! It's also bomber, and everything in between. It depends on location and geology.

All I can say is that I've been playing on El Cap a couple times a year for two decades and have never seen/heard so much rockfall in one trip.

My not so scientific theory is that the big slide over by Waterfall route shook things up and now things are peeling off.

Zodiac seemed as solid as it usually does.

If you are headed up that way stick close to the base and don't linger in the fall zone!

And Arne, I believe you are referring to the man who got chopped on the Muir route. He was direct aiding on a loose block that pulled and cut his rope. However tragic, it would mostly be considered user error.