Tom Evans (elcapreport.com) compiles a photo essay of Zodiac’s most famous pitches:
Zodiac, One of ElCap’s best and most popular routes.
This excellent route was first climbed in a remarkable solo effort by Charlie Porter, in late fall of 1972. The A5 rating kept climbers off it, at first, but its quality and straight forward nature soon became evident and it saw an increase in ascents. After a time it settled into its present rating of 5.9 C3 and became the much sought after route it is today. Most teams will climb it with 2 or 3 bivies and it can be done in less than 10 hours by a fast, competent team. The Huber Brothers climbed their variation of the route in an hour and fifty one minutes…a record that will undoubtedly stand for some time.
Click on the gallery for a written tour of Zodiac:
So that is the great Zodiac Route. A good route for stormy weather, due to its continuously overhanging nature… plus the descent is short and the raps down are not far away. No El Cap resume is complete without this great route.