Rock Climbing at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch | Day 2
Meg Velius climbing Taliban Soup 5.11 at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
Day 2 of our rock climbing trip to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Arkansas again started off on the West Side, but this time we headed to the Titanic Boulder for our warm up route. Why head to a boulder to warm up for a day of sport climbing? Well, there is a pretty amazing route called Ship of Fools 5.10a that starts with an over-hanging boulder move then follows an arete to the the top of the 40ft Titanic Boulder itself. It was a stout first move, but and awesome route to climb!
Meg Velius
Ryan taking a load off while I hang dog.
After surviving the Titanic we headed over to the Prophecy Wall to learn to fly.
The Prophecy Wall gets a little sharper with the routes on the wall grading from 5.10b to 5.14a. There is one 5.8+ on the wall, thankfully for me, but we were there to tackle the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch classic sport climbing route Learning to Fly 5.10c. It’s a beautiful 55ft vertical route with the crux being a spicy over-hanging roof from the final clip to the chains. Ryan was our rope-gun and I’m proud to say I climbed the route with only 1 take on the roof… on top rope haha.
Ryan and Meg also got on Taliban Soup 5.11 which is similar to Learning to Fly 5.10c in that it’s vertical and there’s a big roof at the top.
Meg Velius on Taliban Soup 5.11
Meg starting the roof of Taliban Soup 5.11
Ryan with a well-earned rest.
Me leading Ramblin’ Man 5.8+
The East Side of Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
After the Prophecy Wall we headed back to camp for lunch and a bit of a sit before making the trek across Horseshoe Canyon Ranch to the East Side of the canyon where we hit the Far East Wall first and Ryan climbed the HRC classic Horseshoes and Hand Grenades 5.11a. We also climbed Emotional Content 5.10b, which I’m happy to say I lead, but couldn’t get past the crux just before the chains which was a tricky mantle move onto a foot wide ledge. It was good lead for me though.
Ryan Wittich climbing Horseshoes and Hand Grenades 5.11a
Ryan Wittich on Horseshoes and Hand Grenades 5.11a
The Roman Wall
Day 2 ended at the Roman Wall and Ryan climbing the beautiful Spartacus 5.11b/c. I have to say this entire wall was intimidatingly beautiful. Spartacus 5.11b/c is basically a crimp hall to either the chains, or if you’re in the mood to truly concur your fear like and Roman general you can climb the roof which is aptly named Maximus 5.12a. It’s waiting for the next campaign.
Ryan Wittich climbing Spartacus 5.11c on the Roman Wall at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch Arkansas.
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