Tobey is wrapping up the final bouldering feature today: the top out (mantel) wall. It looks really cool. Check out the decent... yup, a fireman's pole.

Congratulation to all of the Earth Treks Gym Members and Climbing Team Members that competed in this past weekends Friction Bouldering Comp hosted by Sport Rock Sterling (VA). Below are abbreviated results. For full results, visit Friction Bouldering comp results page.

Earth Treks Climbing Team results are also posted on our Offical Team Page .

Busy Friday today. This morning was devoted towards finalizing the 2009/10 Earth Treks Climbing Teams. With almost 80 participants spread over six teams (two per gym), this was the most successful team try out in memory. Coach Mike did a great job organizing the try outs and preparing all of the details for me to post on the Official Team Page. Best wishes and congratulations to all of the team members for a great bouldering season this year. Go get 'em.

In construction news, Tobey and team have set up the "top out wall", ready for paneling. I can almost see the tricky mantel problems and super plush padding needed for those who are worried about "blowing it". Yup, I admit it... I am really thinking about me and my sorry a*$.

Almost all of the new wall is framed and paneled.Tobey and his team from TnT Climbing Walls are working on the last bouldering feature... Looks like it will be fun. This feature will sport a slabby top out too. Descent will be by a "surprise" that you may see in future images.

I posting a few more images of this feature in the Gallery ... so check them out also.

The wall builders; Tobey, Gus, Tony and others have quit for the day. I got these low light images that show some amazing features. You will notice pictures of the new cave that connect to the new bouldering wall. Tobey spent some thought on the features, constructing two big overhangs, a bulge that may have a top-out, multiple dihedral and arêtes and moderate terrain. In addition to "buttoning up" the steel wall structure, the old stalagmite was removed, making way for a new feature. The old stalactite was put on a diet of sawzall and fresh plywood, but remains a feature connecting the cave area to the steep right lead wall.