Race to the Loot 2022

Jack Link’s® hosted the second annual Race to the Loot up Jerky Butte in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest. Last year’s risk-takers came back for another year to compete and conquer the steep summit named after our favorite snack. Each team — Original, Peppered, Teriyaki, and Jalapeño — righteously fed their wild side in the race to win $10,000 and a year’s supply of jerky! 

Turning Up the Wild

This year, we intensified the race because, well, we can’t imagine a wilder place to be wild. The competition tested each team’s physical strength, communication skills, and navigation capabilities all while under serious pressure and the intense Arizona sun. Each competitor had to take his strength up a notch in order to keep up with the challenges. It’s all about freedom when you Feed Your Wild Side®, but this competition was next level. The heat, off-road terrain, and wildlife were all reasons for hesitation. In this environment, it’s not unexpected to cross paths with cougars and rattlesnakes.  

Jack Link’s-ified Challenges

Prior to kicking off the big hike to the summit of Jerky Butte (we still can’t believe it’s really called that), there were some bite-sized challenges that served as roadblocks that the wild competitors had to successfully complete along their route to the Butte.  

• Step to the Key – A challenge based on wayfinding and communication; teams navigated to their designated challenge location where they were tasked with locating a coveted key. Once the correct key was located, teams were able to unlock a box that contained a puzzle piece to be brought with them in order to successfully complete their 2nd challenge.  
• Sasquatch® Slider – In their 2nd challenge, teams were presented with a Sasquatch-sized sliding tile puzzle that once again required concise communication in addition to an abundance of patience and brainpower. Completing the tile puzzle before the other teams is the goal in order to gain an advantage as teams progress to the hike up the butte.  

The Hike

The trek up to the summit of Jerky Butte is not your typical hike. Whatever you’re thinking, think wilder. This rough expedition asked for competitors’ of blood, sweat, and tears. The final challenge was to climb up the summit and be the first team to locate a hidden cache at the top. The first team to overcome the exhausting journey walked away with a $10,000 cash prize and a year’s supply of Jack Link’s products. This year, Josh and Steve from Team Jalapeno led the race from the two initial challenges all the way to the summit to claim the title of the 2022 Race to the Loot champions. They pushed their limits and claimed the loot. It was well deserved and Sasquatch-approved. 

Watch all of the action: