Sean Houchins-McCallum does Echalo (8C)

Sean Houchins-McCallum has sent Echalo (8C) in Clear Creek Canyon (CO). The last time the 21-year-old climbed outdoors was eight months ago. ”First 15, certainly won’t be the last. Just barely squeaked it out before I had to leave back for Iowa. 4 sessions total, so excited.”

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
I did Echale (8B+) in one session back in the spring, then came back over thanksgiving week and the low start took me 3 more sessions. So four in total.

How is your weekly climbing set up?
My weekly climbing life has essentially no structure 😂 I climb around 6-7 times a week on the tension board 2 in my home gym for around 3 hours and that’s all the training I do. Yeah literally all I do is just try hard tension board climbs.

I live in Iowa so there isn’t much outside to go try, so I just took a trip out to Colorado for the week and tried a bunch of hard stuff here.

How much outdoor climbing is there where you live?
I live in Iowa so there isn’t much outside to go try, so I just took a trip out to Colorado for the week and tried a bunch of hard stuff here. There’s one place within an hour drive from me that has like 2 climbs that won’t completely crumble on you however you grab it. So basically nothing lol.

How long driving to find good climbing outdoors?
Depends how good, I could drive 7-8 hours and reach Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Arkansas or Holy Boulders in Illinois, or I could drive about 10 hours and get to Colorado. Arkansas and Holy Boulders are the closest spots I would actually consider good.

So Iowa could be the worst place to live in, fancy outdoors?
Maybe not the very worst but I think it’s up there 😂 Maybe somewhere in Kansas or Nebraska? But then again you’re closer to Colorado in Kansas or Nebraska so idk. I think if you want good established hard boulders Iowa might be the worst 😂

What are your winter plans?
Not sure yet, probably just keep board climbing haha. As of right now I don’t think I’m planning another trip until the spring.