El Cap Gully

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wherever
Tanngrisnir3 wrote about photo lookout points:

Thanks! I'm thinking specifically of the ones on the south wall of the valley, as I've done some of the ones on the north wall, and as I mentioned, plan to do El Cap Gully very soon. The south wall is something I've driven by my whole life and never, until recently, considered/thought about ascending, as I'm sure millions of other people have also done.

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OK. I trust that you are an active climber, and know what you are doing. El Cap Gully is a class 4 climb, or as some people say, "an easy class 5". See photo and description:
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route description

I know of at least three people that have died on this route. It used to be a popular descent route, but hardly gets mentioned in more recent guides. One problem is that it very easy to drop rocks on people, and if they are not roped, they won't survive being knocked off it. In one case, one guy fell on another and they both went down from there.

If you want a better look at the gully from the ground, there are only a few places to do so, because the gully is fairly narrow. Try Bridalveil Meadow, on the south bank of the river (about two miles away), or the lookout on the Pohono Trail above Silver Strand Falls and just east of Old Inspiration Point (about three miles away). Use binoculars or a long lens in afternoon lighting.

The top of Upper Cathedral Rock via the climbers descent route is just a hike, no climbing, with a terrific view of El Cap and of Dewey Point. But you can't see into El Cap Gully from there.

Have fun.

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ryanmj
been wanting to do this as well, got a few other things to check off first though