Build My Own FeedBD athlete Sonnie Trotter reports on his attempt to free climb The Prophet (VI 5.14 R) on El Capitan
Black Diamond athlete Sonnie Trotter is in Yosemite with fellow Canadian Will Stanhope, trying to make the second ascent of Leo Houlding's The Prophet (VI 5.14 R) on El Cap's southeast face. Below is the email he sent us last night (November 1) along with some great photos taken by Paul Bride (check out Paul's website for more sweet pics).
From: Sonnie Trotter
Subject: FAAAAACCKKKKK!
Date: November 1, 2011 11:00:33 PM MDT
Well, very quick recap - I figured out the move on the broken foothold 5.13c R today. STOKED. NO worries. not much has changed. Got that thing on lock down again. Willy did it too. I sent the 5.13d R on TR, again no worries, saving the lead for the big push:) Sent the Final Defence 5.13b R sequence and took it to the top. PSYCHED. Sent the loose flake Guillotine pitch 513b R. Climbed ground up to pitch below number 5. Hiked 10 gallons of water and our port-a-ledge to the base of the wall. Cleaned our gear off the top and packed up our sleeping stuff. All we need now is a fuggin weather window. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Tommy is still up there and I don' think he's backing down for nothing. I LOVE that. As for us, I don't think it's worth starting up if we only get half a day of climbing in before it hits. 3-5inches of snow in the next 24 hours. Cold and wet until Monday. But it's worth waiting for, this is California after all and it will get better again, but how long does that take? Oh the unknown. Shower time.
High five
S.
United States / English 
