Escape the Campus Bubble With Fall Break Climbing Trip
Road-trip through Arkansas and challenge your climbing skills this fall at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
The leaves are changing colors, the summer heat has faded into a fall breeze and Outdoor Adventures is hosting a Fall Break Climbing Trip to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Arkansas. Whether you are a seasoned climber or a total beginner, the trip leaders have designed the experience to be welcoming for all skill levels.
Climbers relaxing with a campfire night at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch.
“I think a lot of people have this idea that [the trip] is really extreme, but the places we go, the routes we climb are really beginner friendly,” Outdoor Adventures program director Todd Grier said. “But we also have some more advanced routes for experienced climbers.”
The Fall Break Climbing Trip offers students an opportunity to get off campus and into the outdoors. Participants will road-trip through Arkansas, camp in the Ozark Mountains at one of the most picturesque colorful times of the year, and build connections with their peers. One highlight of the trip is The Green Goblin, a 5.8-rated climbing route – a moderately challenging climb under the Yosemite Decimal System – that’s a favorite among the trip leaders.
“I got to climb [the Green Goblin] for the first time over the summer [and] nothing has come close to the quality of this route,” trip leader Andrew Trip ‘27 said. “It’s considered one of the best 5.8s in the country.”
Approaching the finish, a climber works their way up the Green Goblin.
The trip will take place during fall break, Friday, Oct. 10 through Tuesday, Oct. 14. With food, travel, and equipment provided by Outdoor Adventures, participants only have to meet the Essential Eligibility Criteria, which outlines the physical and mental requirements needed to keep all participants and trip leaders safe. The climbing trip costs $293 for Rec members and $352 for nonmembers, and is a chance for students to take full advantage of the break from midterms, work and responsibilities.
“It’s very easy to be in a bubble here — different communities, clubs and organizations to be part of, that you lose touch with trying new things out,” graduate assistant Jacob Rendulic said. “This trip gives you an opportunity to push your boundaries in a safe manner under the supervision of people that will take care of you.”
Registration closes on Monday, Oct. 6, and spots are limited, so get ready to trade your screens for the sights and sounds of nature this fall break!
Written by: Angeline Nappoly
