Join PATC-MS for a day of climbing at Aid box at Great Falls National Park. Great Falls is one of DC’s local crags and good for top-roping. We’ll meet up in the climber’s parking lot (sharp right immediately after gatehouse) and walk to one of the areas to spend the morning climbing by the river.

Who: Open to anyone with basic gear: Bring your climbing shoes, harness, and belay device.  Also, bring 2 liters of water per person and food that you want. You must also pack out your trash at this park!

If you have any/all of these items, please also bring them:

• Top-rope set-up (i.e. static line, gear, webbing, dynamic lines, locking carabiners)
• Guidebook (i.e. PATC-MS’s guidebook you receive for going to the monthly meeting)
• Sunscreen/bugspray
• Helmet
• Belay gloves
• Food to share
• Extra gear if you have it.

When:  Meet at the parking lot by 8:00 AM! For people unfamiliar with the area, there are multiple climbing areas spread out over a few miles and cell reception can be poor at the crag. If you don’t arrive on time, you may have a hard time finding the group. If the Aid Box is crowded when we arrive, an alternate crag will be chosen based on availability and preference of trip participants.

Where: Great Falls National Park on the Virginia side (9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102). There is an entrance fee per car ($20), and they also accept the National Parks Annual Pass ($80). Meet in the climber’s lot, which is a sharp right turn immediately after the gatehouse.

Leaders Katherine Carlile kathrcarlile at gmail.com, and Nicole Guilfoyle guilfoylepn at gmail.com

September 21, 2024

8:00 am to 5 pm