“Rock Climber's favorite”
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers. The formation was named "El Capitan" by the Mariposa Battalion when it explored the valley in 1851. El Capitán ("the captain", "the chief") was taken to be a loose Spanish translation of the local Native American name for the cliff, variously transcribed as "To-to-kon oo-lah" or "To-tock-ah-noo-lah". It is unclear if the Native American name referred to a specific Tribal chief, or simply meant "the chief" or "rock chief". In modern times, the formation's name is often contracted to "El Cap", especially among rock climbers.The top of El Capitan can be reached by hiking out of Yosemite Valley on the trail next to Yosemite Falls, then proceeding west. For climbers, the challenge is to climb up the sheer granite face; there are many named climbing routes, all of them arduous.
El Capitan is a great place to go hiking if you are around the area of Yosemite National Park.
This rock looks like the captain of the rocks around it because it is the most dynamic one and I believe this was one of the reasons it is called El Capitan.
There are great trails that you could follow and not get lost. You just need to grab your energy, your passion for hiking, water and food supplies and enjoy what nature has to offer you.
I am sure you have seen pictures but this is an awesome feature to see up close. The hike to the base is not far from a shuttle stop. We could see climbers as we got closer. One of the must see features at Yosemite.
Nothing to say! Just look , and climb ...
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El Capitan
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- Sun - Sat: 12:00 am - 11:59 pm
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