I was able to take a journey to Pinnacle Mountain and meet the so-called Wild Women Feb. 15.

Every Wednesday, these women come together – from all parts of central Arkansas – to enjoy the beauty of Pinnacle Mountain and its many wonders. 

Pinnacle State park opened around the mid-70s, offering the central Arkansas area one of its most famous state parks. 

Pinnacle Mountain contains over 22 miles of hiking trails and includes 14 miles of biking trails. 

The Wild Women started 10 years ago, by a group of women searching for a way to get outdoors in a safe way. 

With the help of Marian Stansbury, one of the park’s female interpreters, the Wild Women was resurrected, creating a safe environment for any lady in central Arkansas.

Every hike taken includes an interpreter, who stays with the ladies to answer questions, aid in an emergency or even catch a snake. 

The hike this particular Wednesday, was on a trail called the Dynamite Trail. 

I spent most of the drive worried about the word dynamite, contemplating its connotation. 

When we arrived at the Visitor Center, we were greeted by some of the friendliest women. 

Most were in retirement, and they were the first ones on the trail. 

“The biggest thing is the camaraderie–the camaraderie of the ladies … that’s really what it is for us … The camaraderie and being outdoors and getting good exercise. Honestly, we welcome people to come out,” Jill Winchell said.

Their determination was encouraging and nonstop, and they never stopped cracking jokes along the way. 

“It doesn’t matter how you walk or hike. Everybody will encourage you along the way,” Winchell said.

Winchell was one of the first ladies to start hiking in this group, and on our hike, she explained the importance of the group — to get active and have fun, making this experience an exciting workout and easy socialization. 

The experience was surreal, and it was amazing to find out interesting facts about Pinnacle. 

The Dynamite trail runs by some of the quarries in the park where businesses sought raw materials. 

Some of the trails even ran by old cars, kitchen appliances and dishwashers thrown away decades ago. 

The history of Pinnacle Mountain was fascinating to hear, and our interpreter Matthew Friant explained the importance of getting to know the land, especially if one is planning on hiking there. 

“Whether it’s an interpreter or park rangers go out to help guide these hikes and facilitate them in case they have a medical emergency. A lot of times being new to the area maybe you don’t know where to go, so we help lead the way on the hikes themselves,” Friant said. “Its interest is just to have fun. It’s a community-based group. A lot of these ladies have been doing it since it started 10 years ago.”

The group meets every Wednesday, and if you’re a Wild Woman, I encourage you to join these lovely ladies. 

For more information, you can join their facebook group, Pinnacle Mountain WW, or reach out to the park for more details.