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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 28, 2007 - 01:10am PT
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Trip Report: El Capitan, East Buttress 5.10b
Gary Carpenter & Ed Hartouni
June 10, 2007
I suggested this climb as a test to see just how in shape we were... and I didn't quite measure up. The last time I did this climb was 9 years ago with John Gotti, in October and very quickly. I didn't remember anything really too difficult from that time. My memory is getting worse, and I'm just not as physically strong as I was... and this climb is burly.
We get an early start up to the base, just before sunrise. Wonderful views of the Cathedrals as the sun slants across.
We are using the topo on Russ' web site (http://www.fishproducts.com/topos/yostopos/eastbutt.html); which is done in 9 pitches with a 70 m rope... we start on the ground and do the "4th class" scramble and the first chimney pitch roped and all in one... here is Gary chimneying low.
The day promises to be excellent, with high cloud cover keeping things cool, along with the nice breeze. And the views keep on coming:
The first pitch is 5.9, and gets into the bidness up high, just as you pull onto the belay pedestal. Gary just jams the left crack, I stem and use both cracks, the thin crack on the right has a bunch of pin scars which serve well as hand holds.
Next the technical crux of the route, about three thin moves on a steep face with delicate edges to reach a feature... and then you're home free! Here I am standing on the feature getting pro in and thinking that the next couple of moves seem a lot harder than what I remember...
photo by Gary Carpenter
I go up the "gutter" then past the ant tree to the next higher belay place. I had to rig an "ant wiper" on the rope as the little suckers latched onto the rope for a free ride up. They were all over the place on these pitches.
Next pitch was Gary's, and it is the most photogenic of the climb. Here he is out on the buttress on easy but spectacular climbing.
We push this pitch as high as we can... my pitch is next, this is our 4th. The protection opportunities are sparse, and basically define the pitch which I took wandering all over the place up to the prominent crack below the block on the skyline.
photo by Gary Carpenter
I didn't quite like what I did on this pitch, but it worked... Gary got the pitch to the block. The 6th pitch is the real crux, and it was mine... ugh! A physical diagonaling crack leads to a corner. Both parts are really physical and try as I might, I didn't have the gas to pull off the first part of the pitch. I got in the pro, but came up short with cramping hands and fingers... four tries, with the last one resulting in a pretty good ride. At this point we know that Gary's Red Alien is OK, my having provided the mass for a pull test.
Gary takes over (great to have accomplished partners!) and takes a picture of me starting up the pitch again.
photo by Gary Carpenter
I have to say that I was in "French Free" mode at this point... two parties below making their way up, and I realizing that I've been traveling too much and not climbing enough. Even gym climbing would have been something.
We're not done yet! I get the next simple pitch... then Gary the wonderful 5.7 pitch on steep ground. This is a pitch with problematic protection, except that just when you were wishing you could get something in, a fixed piton shows up.
I have the final, pitch 9 which has a steep bulge to climb over. Not difficult, but I am beat at this point! Anyway, we top out.
Getting down is straight forward, and using the fixed lines makes it go very fast. We are back at the car in about 13 hours... not great, but considering that I backed off a pitch, not too bad either.
Gary jokes that we should just do this every week until it is easy, for training... I think it would be a great idea! Melissa sez we should totally do it, be the "Huber Bros" for the E. Butt.!
That would be fun.
A great, old school climb with the ghost of Frank Sacherer kicking your ass the whole way up...
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Jude Bischoff
Ice climber
Palm Springs
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Jun 28, 2007 - 01:19am PT
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That is a fine TR Ed, I really enjoyed it after a long night working. Very candid and great photo's. Especially liked the shot gary took of you through the pine tree. Amazing how you have to stay on top of this sport, the party never ends and the fun never stops!
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Russ Walling
Social climber
Out on the sand.... man.....
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Jun 28, 2007 - 01:24am PT
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Kick ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS™™™™™
Tell me the topo was good to go??? My memory is pretty bad sometimes..... Any changes? Send them on over and I'll update the topo. Wait till all the new topos show up where me and the Sooze start cracking off the classics with my 84 meter dream cord.
Just keep thinking that all these routes you are doing are just warmups for Basket Case....
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john hansen
climber
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Jun 28, 2007 - 01:28am PT
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That one photo you call your best, is a winner..
Thats the best one I've seen on ST in along time.
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rhyang
Ice climber
SJC
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Jun 28, 2007 - 01:31am PT
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Inspiring !
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jun 28, 2007 - 01:32am PT
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Thanks, Ed! Did you need to use a bug on the approach?
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 28, 2007 - 01:35am PT
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Russ -
I think a 70m rope is best for your topo, no simul then... not that there's anything wrong with that.
And your 4th pitch is difficult to match, but being there I can't complain as the general idea is to wander around looking for the best pro you can while keeping the climbing 5.7. I belayed just left of the start of the 5.8 crack you show on pitch 5.
Other then that, I thought the topo was pretty good, and the long pitches definitely the way to go. Thanks for putting the topo out there.
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Russ Walling
Social climber
Out on the sand.... man.....
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Jun 28, 2007 - 01:39am PT
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cool.... yeah that 4th pitch is a mess... I went pretty far to the right and thought it was hard, slick and dangerous, as there was no pro.... and a ledge fall. Way off to the left was a big dirty gully as I recall.... so maybe a wandering middle would do it, as you say, and look for pro. Got another topo or two kicking around for Fairview Regular, Lucky Streaks, and East Butt of Middle if you guys are feeling froggy.
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nick d
Trad climber
nm
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Jun 28, 2007 - 01:41am PT
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Ed that is a killer TR! I really enjoyed seeing the route, it is not one I have ever done but looks great! I too am suffering the advancing age/deteriorating physical condition thing, so I can really relate. For a laugh, take a look at the TR I recently posted. I'm sure the after photo I took of myself will make you feel better about the shape you are in. Thanks so much for posting up, it was a very enjoyable read!
Michael
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wack-N-dangle
Gym climber
the ground up
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Jun 28, 2007 - 10:13am PT
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Beautiful pictures. Only time I tried it was a little earlier in the season a couple years ago, and "fortunately" there was enough water that we got turned back at the top of the third pitch. Following the (slippery for me) stemming chimney to the first belay, and getting the gear out after the thin moves at the start of the second pitch were enough to fluster me.
I was offered the second pitch, but didn't like the idea of falling on either the belay, a thin nut above it, or an Alien in a flaring pocket off to the right (if I remember). Ahh, the good old days when some Aliens were less vilified OT. (and I had more time/motivation to climb!) Still, following in the shade, my feet stuck with that modern sticky black stuff. Must have been something else without new technology. Looks like the view only gets better on the upper pitches...
Oh yeah, afterward we went over to the cookie and I had a go at Outer Limits. I think my partner was more interested in sitting at my truck and eating. Could have been because he was holding? Anyway, I hung on the rope more than a couple of times, and was quite a lot more tired than I had hoped I would be. I didn't care about impressing the aggro homophobic partner whom I had just met and didn't care to climb with again. However, he did mention that it was Mary and Werner climbing next to us. Werner had a go and did it in better style you may be pleased to know. Thanks for the report. Again, beautiful pics. It reminds me of how nice it is to be in Yosemite.
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Lost Arrow
Trad climber
The North Ridge of the San Fernando
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Jun 28, 2007 - 10:27am PT
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Is the pro on the route at anytime more than 10ft apart? What is the longest runout at what rating?
Jeff
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 28, 2007 - 11:16am PT
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Jeff - I think that the pro is ok, but the route is oddly runout for all the features.
There is a lot of iron pounded in up there, don't know how good it is, but it provides the necessary psychological aid to get you through on the steep, slick sections of rock which are otherwise problematic.
The 5.10b crux requires that you move through and stand up, about 10' with no pro on a penji fall back onto the belayer. The bolt hole of yore is there, no bolt.
Our 3rd pitch (the spectacular one) can be run out.
Our 4th pitch requires careful looking for pro placements on slick rock, but it's there if you look.
The 6th pitch, the physical crux, has good pro placement but off of strenuous stances at the begining.
After that the traverse on the 8th pitch requires some thought as you down climb 15' to 20' to get on the line after the second pillar. So you probably wouldn't put pro in for a bit of distance.
Even on the 9th pitch there is a bit of tricky climbing next to a too-wide-crack protected by an ancient pin on a bulge...
The pro is not an issue on this climb, in my opinion, but you have to be good at spotting your opportunities and taking them.
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Tahoe climber
Trad climber
a dark-green forester out west
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Jun 28, 2007 - 11:26am PT
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"but you have to be good at spotting your opportunities and taking them. "
Something everyone could use more practice at! Well said.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Jun 28, 2007 - 11:51am PT
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Cool TR, Ed. Looks like a fantastic route. Nice job gettin' 'er done. You and Gary rock!
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spyork
Social climber
A prison of my own creation
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Jun 28, 2007 - 11:58am PT
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Nice TR Ed!
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BASE104
climber
An Oil Field
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Jun 28, 2007 - 12:32pm PT
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I always thought that this was just a super good route. I don't remember anything hard but that .10b move and I was definitely a mere human. I took a jumper up it who barely knew how to belay. Everyone should go do it. Fun climbing, great view, what more do ya want?
That bucket pitch is worth the admission alone.
I still think that the S-S is far harder, but also a super fun route.
Cool pictures. I lost that part of my brain in a hard-drive crash some time ago. I just remember how fun it was.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 28, 2007 - 12:38pm PT
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Great route!
Always wanted to add the Moratorium as a start; alas, I too am creaking like an old ship and I think she's gonnah need max levels of Midol, DMSO, DHEA, TLC (IPA & THC in the old days) and other nutri-ceutical gags to get that one done. hahahahahaha.
Rock on...
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Matt
Trad climber
State of Mind
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Jun 28, 2007 - 01:13pm PT
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yo ed-
the 1st time i did that climb, maybe 5 or 6 years ago, i also fell onto a red alien placed in that diagonal 5.9 crack. then, hanging on the rope, i took another look up at the rock- that crack is diverging from a more vertical crack just to its right. if you double crack your way up between them w/ your left foot in that diagonal crack, then stem, then come down into/across it, you easily reach the juggy part and it feels like only 5.9 climbing (otherwise you are underneath, stemming between very slippery slabby bulges, and the crack rounds out, i betchya we fell in the same spot, no?).
i have a great memory of the next pitch on that climb, leading up off of that comfortable ledge. i looked down to talk to my partner and he had a bright yellow shirt actually it was my shirt) tucked in the back of his harness, which was flapping in the wind. it came loose and instead of blowing away it just sat there and hovered effortlessly in the updraft, right behind him. i told him he might want to grab it and he casually turned around and slowly reached out for it, and we both had a good laugh. (no photos of that tho' =)
nice shot of the arete pitch!
btw- my theory of why you were feeling sub par:
you were obviously up way way too early...
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Jun 28, 2007 - 01:32pm PT
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Cool report. I remember a facey type pitch that has very little gear? Maybe I was off route or wasn't looking hard enough. I climbed it with a friend who packed a full-blown pic-nic lunch for us to eat on the route- PB&J sandwiches and all! Moritoriam is rad.
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Gunks Guy
Trad climber
Rhinebeck, NY
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Jun 28, 2007 - 02:06pm PT
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Excellent TR. Probably the top long free route on my list of "yet to be done" climbs. I am now officially inspired. Now I just need to get my sorry ass in shape again.
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