Tom at ABC on Scorched Earth, Climbers on the Trip

This is photo #8 in a series of 32. You can click here to return to Photo #1.

Here you can see Tom [apollodorus] standing on our Advance Base Camp ledge at the top of the second pitch of Scorched Earth, which is in fact the top of the second pitch of El Cap Tree. The climbers behind Tom are on the third pitch of Tangerine Trip, a popular Trade Route.

Scorched Earth is a seldom-repeated route that comes at you fast and hard, starting with A3+ hooks right off this ledge, moves which offer significant deck potential. So DFU!

Back in November 2000, I stood here alone, preparing to solo this next pitch of Scorched Earth while waiting for my partner to escape from work. He didn't, and I later got snowed off. But not before I chickened out of soloing this pitch, and switched to the Trip!

Tom is looking pretty happy here [hell, yeah - he didn't have to lead this one!] - but this pitch and the one above had me a bit worried.

You can click here to see a cool shot of Tom's ledge.