El cap gets climbed thousands of times every year. There have been a few people who have climbed it top to bottom without any gear. That's called "Free Soloing". There are tons of bolts, as well as fixed pitons that climbers use for anchors and or direct aid. Many routes require the use of pitons that are cleaned after each pitch to be used again on the subsequent pitch. Spring loaded camming devices, stoppers,hex nuts, sliding nuts and tube chocks are also employed in anchor construction, protection, and aid. Projections of rock called horns or chickenheads are slung with webbing as well. Teeny tiny grappling hooks are also used on the harder aid climbs to gain vertical progression. Climbers also use these little pieces of soft metal called copperheads or bashies on the harder aid climbs. If you are new to climbing, check out John Long's "How to Rock Climb".

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