Carderock 2012 A Success!

Hard at work

Last month's Adopt-A-Crag at Carderock was a huge success!  We had a great turnout, with 55 people making short work of the massive amount of mulch provided by the park service.

Getting clever with the "shovelling"

Every year on National Public Lands Day, climbers join the C & O National and Historic Park to mulch the climbing area above and below the cliffs to manage impact and control erosion.  Along with this work, volunteers worked to brush social trails beginning to develop in the surrounding area.

Bombs away!

After all the work was completed, volunteers were fed a generous spread provided by Earth Treks, followed by a raffle of gear provided by our sponsors.

Thanks to all our volunteers as well as our sponsors: REI, Earth Treks, Sportrock, Solid Rock Climbers for Christ, Misty Mountain, Friksn, Patagonia, Eastern Mountain Sports, and Metolius.

If you'd like to see more photos from the event, check out Mark "Indy" Kochte's collection here.

HERA/MAC Chili Cook-off

Howdy Ya'll !

The HERA Climb4Life event is starting this weekend and we're proud to be hosting the first-ever Climb4Life climber picnic and chili cook-off!

Where: Carderock Recreation Area, MD
When: Sunday, March 14, 2010
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

This informal gathering at Carderock Recreation Area , MD is a great opportunity to swap stories and belays and to show off your culinary expertise. We'll be sampling chili and giving away some prizes, raffles too.

Bring your climbing gear and check out what Carderock has to offer (top roping and bouldering).

CHILI COOK OFF GUIDELINES:
• Anything goes may the best chili win!
• Participants must bring a closed container to be rested above a catering candle sterno candles
provided) Bring enough for judging and sharing.
• Participants and spectators must bring their own bowls & eating utencils.

Mid Atlantic Climbers is participating in the 5th Annual HERA - Climb4Life Event and you should too!

Last year, the Greater Washington DC community brought together over 450 climbers who helped raise over $60,000 to support Ovarian Cancer Research.

This year HERA Women's Cancer Foundation is bringing the Climb4Life Event to DC - March 13th -19th. With a goal to promote awareness and raise money.

How can I get involved?
Join our team Eyes In The Sky and come out to the HERA events .

From the HERA website:

"Registration Fees:
Your $30 registration fee is a donation to HERA and includes:

• Admission to Kick-Off and Climbers' Festival


• A goodie bag filled with coupons and gifts


• Four days of free climbing at Sportrock: 2 at Sterling, 2
  at Alexandria (valid 3/14 - 3/21)


• Discounts on classes and memberships at Sportrock


• Expert unlimited Power Yoga at Dancing Mind Yoga, (valid 3/13 – 3/21)


• Clinics with pro-climbers,


• Discounts with REI Outdoor School


• A special slideshow presentation by a guest pro-climber


• Global Mala Event – 108 Sun Salutations - celebrate life!"

Challenge yourself and help the HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation fight ovarian cancer!

By participating in HERA Climb4Life, you can help save lives.

Fall Adopt-a-Crags - Another Huge Success For MAC!

7th Annual Adopt-a-Crag

For the past 7 years, local climbers, outdoor enthuasists, the Access Fund, Earth Treks, Sportrock and the National Park Service have come together to support our local crags with a day of volunteer work that aims to unite the outdoor community and preserve our precious natural resources. This fall, Mid Atlantic Climbers organized well over 100 volunteers and completed more than 10 individual projects.

At Great Falls Nat'l Park, VA:
On Sept. 5th, 2009 more than 50 volunteers came out in support of Mid Atlantic Climber's mission for the first Adopt-a-Crag event of the season. Four teams of volunteers tackled projects identified by National Park Service.

Projects included:
-brushing-in of a major social trail

-trail maintenance in a high-traffic area

-building a slit rail fence and,

-re-grading the path to Overlook 1

After the projects were completed volunteers were treated to a BBQ compliments of Sportrock Climbing Centers and a gear raffle from Mid Atlantic Climbers and the Access Fund.

Carderock, MD

Completed Projects from 2008 and 2009

At Carderock Recreation Area, MD:
On Sept. 26th, 2009 more than 70 volunteers including climbers, hikers and many from the Armed Forces took on several projects in prominent areas of the park. paying special attention to long term park preservation. In collaboration with the US Navy and the National Park Service's Volunteer Coordinator Kyle Anderson,

Projects included:

-Trail maintenance

- re-mulching of heavily trafficked trails

- Erosion control

- Brushing-in of significant social trails

- Replacing the retaining wall below Hades Heights.

After projects were completed, volunteers were treated to a BBQ hosted by EarthTreks Climbing Centers and a gear raffle from Mid Atlantic Climbers and the Access Fund.

A Huge Success deserves a Huge Thank You!

Mid Atlantic Climbers would like to thank this years Adopt-a-Crag partners including:

the Access Fund

REI

Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS)

Sportrock Climbing Centers

Earthtreks Climbing Gyms

Mid Atlantic Climbers would also like to extend a very special thank you to REI for their continued support of the Adopt-a-Crag events throughout the last 7 years! Definitely committed to the outdoor community!

Lastly, none of this would not have been possible without the dedication and enthusiasm of the individual volunteers.

To everyone who has ever participated in the Adopt-a-Crag series, Mid Atlantic Climbers would like to thank you for helping, and to say that we look forward to working with you in the future!

Fall 2009 Adopt-a-Crag Events

In partnership with the Access Fund, local climbing organization the Mid-Atlantic Climbers invites volunteers to particiate in the 7th annual Adopt-a-Crag events this September at Great Falls National Park, VA and Carderock Recreation Area, MD.

The two events will take place on Saturday, September 5th in Great Falls Park, VA and Saturday, September 26th in Carderock Recreation Area, MD. Volunteers will work with the park service on erosion control, trail maintenance, and other projects to ensure the resources at these national parks remain accessible to all visitors. This year, Adopt-a-Crag program will host clean-ups at over 100 climbing areas around the country including Great Falls and Carderock. Both events are supported by generous donations from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), W.L. Gore, Eastern Mountain Sports and CLIF BAR.

Last year's DC area Adopt-a-Crag events were supported by over 250 volunteers. For two days, climbers helped lay down over five tons of gravel, three tons of wood chips, and removed several thousand pounds of trash. Volunteers also helped to maintain several miles of trails and wilderness areas that are used by visitors and climbers alike throughout the year.

For more information about Access Fund as well as other Adopt-a-Crag events please visit ( www.accessfund.org/adopt ),

No experience is necessary, this your chance to help sustain our most precious resource as rock climbers -our local crag.

To volunteer please contact Mid-Atlantic Climbers at midatlanticclimbers@gmail.com for more information.

Dates and Locations:
Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA
Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Carderock Recreation Area, MD

Time: 9:00am-2:00pm, check-in at 8:30am