The Good Climb Challenge
The Good Climb Challenge
Event at HoliMont focuses on improved mental health through physical activity
With the bell for HoliMont’s Ski School in the foreground, Exhibition Run will provide the ‘learning zone’ for endurance athletes of all ages and ability levels.
You can think of The Good Climb Endurance Challenge as a ‘race’ if you want, but the finish line could be as far as five hours away from where you start, so come prepared to embrace the challenge!
The HoliMont Ski Club will play host to endurance athletes of all ages and abilities from 9:00am-2:00pm on Saturday, Aug. 6th, when climbers from near and far will attempt to take on Exhibition Run - a ski hill in the winter time - which rises about 700 vertical feet to the summit from its location directly in front of HoliMont’s Main Chalet.
For Good Climb participants, the challenge will come in the form of how fast and for how long they can push themselves past the point of discomfort during the uphill trek. The brainchild of local endurance athlete/performance coach, John Baldwin, it is the mission of The Good Climb Endurance Challenge to foster improved mental health through physical activity.
“We believe that getting out of your comfort zone and doing hard things can build mental and emotional resilience, reduce stress and anxiety and result in a more fulfilling life.”
With the primary goal of strengthening mental health at the core of the challenge, all proceeds from The Good Climb will go to benefit Horizon Health Services, Inc., the largest provider of outpatient mental health and substance use treatment in Western New York. Participating in the challenge is a way to grow and improve yourself - both mentally and physically - while at the same time you will be directly supporting the worthwhile cause of adolescent mental health services in our area.
“For the businesses and organizations that helped us sponsor the event, they are all truly engaged because mental health is a huge issue that they’re working on for their own employees,” Baldwin explained. “It’s easy to understand why you’d want to do (the challenge) and it’s easy to see why you’d want to support it.”
Baldwin also praised the enthusiastic support of event partner, The Revelas Family Foundation, which “works in the local Western New York community to promote mental health awareness and support organizations that provide resources for those who are struggling.”
As a reward for pushing through the discomfort of a 70-story stairmaster and making it to the top of the hill, climbers will be able to take a load off their feet on the Exhibition Express Chairlift and catch a relaxing ride back to the start line at the bottom. Getting the ride back to the bottom provides a unique feature to this challenge, because as most experienced climbers and hikers will tell you, once you make the summit of any climb, you will almost always have to get yourself back to the bottom!
As is the case during the ski season, the trails to follow will be marked as Easy, More Difficult or Most Difficult; with the most direct path to the top being the most challenging way to go and the meandering, easy path providing a longer, less-steep way up. Climbers will have their choice of trail difficulty every time they begin a new trip up the hill, while every arrival at the top will signal another accomplishment and “a new normal,” according to Baldwin. “It raises the bar and expands your understanding of what you are capable of.”
If the thought of spending time in the beautiful Ellicottville countryside appeals to you, but you’d rather leave the hiking to someone else, “This is going to be a super, spectator-friendly event!” Baldwin said. “There will be music, vendors’ tents and food all day long and we’ll also have giveaways throughout the day.”
Everyone who signs up to participate will receive a goody bag from event promoters - a little ‘something we all get’ to put a smile on your weary face! Get yourself signed-up for The Good Climb Endurance Challenge by going to thegoodclimb.com and clicking on the ‘sign up now’ button.