As a dome progresses, each added layer brings the structure closer to completion. Also, every successive course corbels more intensely and actual building is being done at a higher altitude. As the dome attains a certain height, obstacles begin to present themselves.

Of foremost concern is the problem of getting the stabilized earth to the bag. It is possible to build scaffolding or a pulley system in order to solve this problem however, during this build we chose to send five gallon buckets up a human chain of progressively taller ladders. This in turn created a personell drain, as more people were needed for the ladder there were less people available to do other important jobs. As the bags step in there is an overlap on each course which demands more care and attention in laying and tamping the bag.

In summation: building becomes more difficult and has to be done well on a 17-inch wide surface covered in barbed wire. Fortunately, the building process serves as a learning curve which prepares builders for the difficult task of working on the very top layers. In earthbag building there is little that compares to completing the final ring of a dome; during this build we have done just that, three fold!