Earth Treks - The new "largest gym in America"

So apparently Earth Treks is the new self-acclaimed largest gym in the USA. They say they have 38,500 ft^2. of climbable surface area. Stone Summit and Messa Rim, the runner ups, claim "more than 30,000 ft^2." So, being that I am going to be in the RRG, I am considering driving over to MD specifically to climb at this new Earth Treks gym, but is is really worth the 10 hour drive? How is the setting? If it is anything less than world class, I would envision my time might be better spent at Stone Summit.

Opinion- no.

You are going to be in Red River Gourge and are thinking about driving to a climbing gym, 10 hours away? Is this a joke?

That is nuts, but to each their own, I guess....

Prod.

I have been to all three gyms over the last 3 years, and while Earth Treks may be bigger square foot wise it is only 40 feet tall at the most. 30,000^2 and 50 to 70 feet tall sounds better then 38,500^2 and 40 feet tall.(The red still sounds way better then any of those options.)

The new "largest Gumby factory farm in America"

No gym is worth more than a 20-minute drive, IMO. Ten hours is ridiculous.

I think Crypply alluded to, climbing gyms should be measured in cubic feet, not square feet.

By the way, since you seem to be into math and stuff 20kN (and didn't you say you were an engineering student?), it's 30,000 ft^2, _not_ 30,000^2 ft. The latter is equivalent to 900,000,000 linear feet.

The Rockville location is quite nice as gyms go, but no gym is worth a 10 hour drive.
The setting is better than most gyms at which I've climbed, but not great. They do set a few new routes every weekday, so there's always something new to try.
Keep in mind, if you're there at the wrong time of day or on a weekend, it will be packed.

Marc H wrote:No gym is worth more than a 20-minute drive, IMO. Ten hours is ridiculous.

I drive an hour and a half twice a week to go to the gym. It's the closest thing around. I have to drive farther if I want to climb outside. I'll be moving soon. Fuck this shit.

20 kN wrote:So apparently Earth Treks is the new self-acclaimed largest gym in the USA. They say they have 38,500^2 ft. of climbable surface area. Stone Summit and Messa Rim, the runner ups, claim "more than 30,000^2 ft." So, being that I am going to be in the RRG, I am considering driving over to MD specifically to climb at this new Earth Treks gym, but is is really worth the 10 hour drive? How is the setting? If it is anything less than world class, I would envision my time might be better spent at Stone Summit.

You should forget about the RRG and climb at Rocks State Park in Maryland instead, so you'll be closer to Earth Treks.

mountainproject.com/v/rocks…

Pretty sweet troll!

Ha, T5.

Every single person took the hook, line, and sinker, all in one big mouthful.

And it's only 8.5 hrs from RRG to Earth Treks. I live 4 blocks from the gym.

John Wilder wrote: 40' is pretty damn tall, and frankly, taller gyms are a PITA to set in and dont offer as much climbing as a 40' tall facility. 38,500 sounds ridiculous. I cant imagine a gym that big. I also cant imagine leaving the RRG to pull on plastic for any reason.

That´s a pretty squalid little hut isn´t it? I though everything in the US was bigger and better.
One of my local walls has 84,000sq ft, 55ft indoors and 160ft outdoors. The other one nearby stops the indoor routes at 95ft for obvious reasons.

Jim Titt wrote: That´s a pretty squalid little hut isn´t it? I though everything in the US was bigger and better. One of my local walls has 84,000sq ft, 55ft indoors and 160ft outdoors. The other one nearby stops the indoor routes at 95ft for obvious reasons.

You've got multi-pitch gym climbing!?

prod. wrote:You are going to be in Red River Gourge and are thinking about driving to a climbing gym, 10 hours away? Is this a joke? That is nuts, but to each their own, I guess.... Prod.

Well first off, I am spending a month or so in the RRG, so when I do leave, I will be happy to leave. I cant spend more than a few weeks in one area living in my car or I loose focus. Second, I am not going to the east cost specifically to visit a gym, I am going because my girlfriend wants to explore the east, so I figure if I am going to head that way I should head in a direction where there is a good gym. My GF likes nice gyms, so it would be a good fit. We can explore the area in the day and climb at night. But the question is which direction, north towards ET, or south towards Stone Summit.

Eric Krantz wrote:I think Crypply alluded to, climbing gyms should be measured in cubic feet, not square feet. By the way, since you seem to be into math and stuff 20kN (and didn't you say you were an engineering student?), it's 30,000 ft^2, _not_ 30,000^2 ft. The latter is equivalent to 900,000,000 linear feet.

Indeed, nice catch, thanks. No, I am not an engineering student, I am an IT security student, but there are times where mechanical engineering sounds more attractive.

The Rockville Earth Treks is a pretty nice set-up. Good clean gym, and lots of options. I live in Delaware but will head down there on rainy weekends. Their bouldering is really good, they have several artificial crack climbs that are so-so, and some cool features to lead including a 12-15ft horizontal overhang. Good for a pump. I've been to a decent number of gyms and it is my favorite.

John Wilder wrote: Yeah, but there's actual money in climbing in Europe. Not so much here.

It appears so, the German Alpine Association just spent $6.8million enlarging their hall in Munich (which was already the biggest in the world). The beergarden on the roof is a neat feature!

20 kN wrote:But the question is which direction, north towards ET, or south towards Stone Summit.

If that's truly the case (and this isn't a masterful troll) then you could actually make a nice trip of it. From RRG heading back towards Washington DC, it's 3 hours to New River Gorge (world class climbing), another 3 hours to Seneca Rocks (also amazing, 95% trad), and then another 3 hours to DC, with Earth Treks just a short drive/metro ride away.

If you do decide to head North you can spend a day or two touring around our nation's Capital, get in a couple sessions at ET, and then continue further North to the Gunks - about a 5 hour drive. Along the way there are a number of more "touristy" attractions like Philly, the Delaware beaches, NYC, etc.