Horseshoe Canyon Ranch


Horseshoe Canyon Ranch is where my latest adventure took me, and it was an adventure, indeed. With floods, skunks, teepees, and of course, climbing, it was one for the record books. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, located in Jasper, Ark., is worth every bit of the 5-hour pilgrimage to get there. The drive through the winding back country takes you to the hidden treasure that is Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. Family owned by the Johnsons, Horseshoe Canyon Ranch has been up and operating as a guest ranch for the past ten years, with climbing introduced just 7 years ago by a then-passing-through Jason Roy. Roy came to the ranch to put up a few routes with friends, but just never left. At the time there were only 60 set routes, and it was unknown to the Johnsons that they were sitting on the newest hot spot of climbing. With over 300 sport routes and a couple of hundred bouldering problems, this is has become the mecca to midwestern climbing. The ranch also offers accommodations ranging from log cabin stays with full service meals, to teepee living and, of course, primitive campsites. If you're not savvy to climbing and looking to get started, hired guided services are available. Horseshoe notes that this is an ideal place to start leading climbing. There has been a boom at the ranch since entering the limelight in Dosage 3 and various magazines. With the constant stream of pros like Chris Sharma, Jason Kahl, Fred Nicole, Dave Graham and Katie Brown hitting Horseshoe, climbing has blown up and guests are coming from far and wide seeking the chance to climb the coveted sandstone that stretches as far as the eye can see. Jason Roy, Adventure Activities Director and Head Climbing Guide, says, "the draw to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch is the close proximity to camping and safely bolted moderates. It's like luxury climbing, this rock is the best seen. Some of the best friction and the climbs are so diverse from slab, to cracks, steep overhangs, and massive erretts." Lastly, my climbing friends and I climbed, saw, and at least tried to conquer what we coined the southern comfort to climbing, Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. Jason Roy put it best: "the cat's definitely out of the bag to climbing in Arkansas". For more on Horseshoe Canyon Ranch visit www.gohcr.com. Girl vs. Wild, Jacquelyn Farris

The sun is sneeking out. I have never been so excited to see the sun in my life. Now all I need to do is dry out and get geared to climb!!! Girl vs. Wild, Jacquelyn Farris

Rise and shine brought an end to the rain, but last night at 2:45am to be exact we had another skunk come in and visit! We are all still in our sleeping bags just fighting the freezing wet cold. All my gear is wet including my shoes, but I still believe tomorrow will be a day of climbing. Girl vs. Wild, Jacquelyn Farris

There is not much to say except we are all wet climbing rats. We spent the entire day in the teepee with dreams of sunny dry skies.We watched Into The Wild and answered calls from our families with warnings of road closures and tornado watches while we sit wet in the teepee. We have started bedding down for another soaked night, but Mr. Shunk I warn you to stay out! Until tomorrow morning I am Girl vs. Wild Jacquelyn Farris a wet climber!

I am blogging from inside a soaked teepee and soaked in is an understatement. Last night it started pouring and we were flooded out of our tent and came to sleep in the teepee. If you think thats crazy at 6am one of the guys wakes up and says “guys, guys there is a skunk eating the tortillas in here” I joke not there was a huge skunk eating our food next to my face. So recap we are flooded out of the tent, now the teepee is flooded, and a skunk came in and ate our tortillas. This is the best adventure. Until I dry out I am Girl vs. Wild Jacquelyn Farris

Today was a full day of bouldering the guys ran big problems that would boggle most minds V4’s were run throughout the ranch. We were definately the group to beat. This is a serious group of climbers. The rain should be rolling in soon so we are hunkering down in our teepee. Until tomorrow I am Girl vs. Wild, Jacquelyn Farris

Day 2. It’s Monday morning and I pulled all five hundred layers off. I am sitting on a jug of water outside amusing myself playing disc golf at nine in the morning before we hike off for a full day of bouldering. One of the guys might go all out for the new V13 Dave Graham set. It’s looking to be an amazing day with spirits up, because we are climbing! Girl vs. Wild, Jacquelyn Farris

Its 1 o’clock and myself Morley and Jack hit up some night climbing with the trusty ranch dog Chili who lead the way and killed a possum to protect us. The guys lead routes and did it all in the dark. We are in the tent and waiting for the rain to roll in. Until tomorrow I am Jacquelyn Farris Girl vs. Wild

In exactly one day and counting I will hit the road and embark on what will be a serious climbing adventure. I am headed out to climb with big boys at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Jasper Arkansas. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch is located in Jasper Arkansas with 350 acres on the ranch and 160 adjacent and all climbable so I am sure to find a few routes top. It is called "the new climbing hot spot of the midwest" with 300 plus routes set on the ranch and a majority of them sport, and a couple hundred bouldering problems there should be enough to boggle my climbing mind for a few days. The routes range in class from 5.0-5.14a, and the hardest route is "Prophet" which climbing genious Chris Sharma set the first ascent. This is an ideal place to start climbing, and especially to start lead climbing. My good friend Michael Morley just called and told me "I will lead my first route at Horseshoe", this means its on! Dear climbing gods, please part the skies and shine your favor on me and the gang. We are ready to climb on. Girl vs. Wild, Jacquelyn Farris