By Barbara Arnstein
August is here and it’s really hot, so it’s time to hit the ski slopes! No, you didn’t read that wrong. For the first time ever, HoliMont Ski Resort, in Ellicottville (at 6921 route 242 W) is offering a five-hour summer endurance challenge on their slopes, the “HoliMont Good Climb”.
It’s a charity hiking event at which you can choose one of three different routes uphill, with difficulty levels of “tough”, “tougher” and toughest”. Each upward trek takes around fifteen to twenty minutes, depending upon whether you select the direct route, under the chairlift; the somewhat easier path, or the easiest path, which takes the longest. You can complete as many climbs as you can manage, and participants are encouraged to go for their personal best. There will be people making sure everyone’s fine, and mats clocking the times of each contestant.
The event is on August 6th, between 9am-2pm and the race fee is $94, plus a $6.45 sign-up fee. Your visit will be very different from your usual ski resort visit since you’ll be trekking up the hill, not gliding down; you’ll have hiking footwear on your feet rather than skis; and you’ll be surrounded by greenery, rather than snow. However, you’ll still get to ride the chairlift, going downhill, and you can still use poles to help you along. Hikers’ poles rather than ski poles, of course, and if you don’t have your own, you can borrow a pair. Plus, you’ll get snacks, water and Gatorade to keep you going; a very nice light lunch at noon, provided by the popular Ellicottville restaurant, Dina’s; and a souvenir “Swag Bag”, containing
a t-shirt, a backpack, and a water bottle. Trophies, medals and tumblers will be awarded and the top male and female winners will get Runner’s Roost soft rubber massaging sandals. Ellicottville’s City Garage will be providing the winners’ trophies, which will be engraved just for them.
“The black diamond path is the toughest, the blue square is a little less tough and the green circle is the easiest but it’s the long way around” said John Baldwin, the coach who organized this event. “There will be a deejay playing music, a spectator area, and vendors selling hot dogs and hamburgers. The athletes can store their belongings in a tent. All the proceeds will go to Horizon Health Services adolescent mental health programs & substance abuse services.”
“You have to push out of your comfort zone”, advised the coach. “You have to do hard things if you want to have a fulfilling life”.
Registration ends this Friday, August 5th at 11:59pm. The event is partnered with the Revelas Family Foundation, which promotes mental health awareness in the Western New York Community and supports organizations that provide resources; and the top sponsors are the HoliMont Ski Club, Highmark WNY, and Lawley Insurance. For more information, go to thegoodclimb.com