Friday once again here at ET Columbia. One of my peers just left for The New, another for the bar and yet a third vacillating between going mountain biking, bouldering or to the beach (I think kayaking may win out because of the rain). I'm still desk bound for a few hours then heading out to staff the medic unit at my local fire house.

Now that Tobey and his team have finished the steel for the Lead/TR wall, plywood is going up. It gets measure, cut and installed from the ground or off of the scissor lifts. If you look carefully, you can see a crack taking shape and into what will be the fitness area in the back ground.

Save the date: The Mid-Atlantic Climbers, our local group representing The Access Fund, is organizing the 7th Annual Carderock/Great Falls Adopt-A-Crag. Historically, this crag clean up event has good turn out and a very positive impact on our two closest crags.

The Great Falls clean up is scheduled for September 5th and the Carderock clean up is scheduled for September 26th. Earth Treks is once again hosting an after clean up BBQ at Carderock on Sept. 26th for all participants.

Demolition of the Columbia cave was finished today and the wall builders have started prepping for the instillation of new steel supports. A second crew is busy panelling the Lead/TR wall. I hope to post more pictures tomorrow. Oh, I noticed today that the wall building team is busy fabricating a new crack for us!

In the mean time, if you drop by the gyms, check out our   RED HOT RETAIL DISCOUNT SALE with up to 75% off climbing gear.

Most of the demolition of the original ET bouldering cave occurred over yesterday and today. It was a bitter sweet occasion. Well, not really. I haven't seen a bunch of climbers having this much fun in a while. Give a bunch of climbers turned construction workers Sawzalls and 13lb sledge hammers and you are bound to have a few laughs.

The Lead/TR wall saw more progress as well. The steel is getting "buttoned up" with finishing welds and the foot of the wall is seeing some plywood!