Rest and Lunch

After climbing the first four pitches up to Sickle Ledge, then rappelling, leaving ropes in place with which to get back up, we hiked back to the car to retrieve the haul bags. Aaron got the nasty job of carrying the big pig (visible on the left side of this photo). He strapped the beast to his back, and began slowly trudging up the trail to the base of El Cap, while I carefully repacked the mini-pig with three and a half days' worth of food for two. When finished, I loaded her onto my back, threw the portaledge and rain fly over my shoulder, locked up the car, and set off up the trail. When we reached the base, we rested for a few minutes and ate lunch, before getting ready to haul.