The Good Climb 2023
The Good Climb 2023
Test the Body and Mind with a 5-Hour Endurance Challenge at HoliMont
Photos / The Good Climb
A seasoned endurance athlete, John Baldwin knows what it means to put one’s body to the test. With several years of marathons and triathlons - even Ironman races - under his belt, he’s learned that the most valuable tool for success is not a specific piece of exercise equipment, a certain brand of footwear, or a particular pre-workout meal. Rather, he believes that the most powerful tool for accomplishing any goal is the mind, and it’s this mind-body connection that is at the heart of The Good Climb, a five-hour endurance challenge that is returning to HoliMont for the second year on Saturday, August 5th.
A father of three and former wrestling coach at Canisius High School, Baldwin has seen firsthand how many students are struggling, especially in recent years. “Especially during the pandemic, I started seeing that a lot of kids were struggling mentally with everything from schoolwork to identity issues to the stresses of Covid, and just being teens,” he said. “We founded this event to raise awareness and money to support programs that can help students. We’ve teamed up with Horizon Health Services, who started these three-faceted programs in area high schools to reach kids, parents, and faculty - how to spot warning signs, dealing with stress, dealing with depression. These programs are being very successful and spreading to more and more area schools.”
Baldwin’s passion for Horizon’s mission combined with his love of physical activity were the catalyst for The Good Climb, which was held for the first time in 2022. “My family skis in Ellicottville, and I do a lot of hiking,” Baldwin explained. “I had heard about ‘Everest-ing’: this guy rented a ski hill that people could climb and take a gondola down. They kept doing this for 30 hours until they reached the height of Everest. I loved the idea! Walking up Sunset Hill, I thought, ‘I wonder if we can do that here? Could we kill two birds with one stone - make a great event and get involved with Horizon?’”
When Baldwin brought the idea to Ed Youmans and Travis Widger at HoliMont, the answer was a resounding, “Yes”! The format is simple and the challenge is real: In five hours, participants’ goal is to climb the hill as many times as possible. There are three different routes of varying difficulty so “no matter what your ability level, we’ve got a path for you to get to the top,” said Baldwin. “The spirit is to get out there and push yourself out of your comfort zone in an environment of support and like-minded people. If you can do one climb, do another. It’s incredible what can be available to you if you can lean into your discomfort and do it for awhile.”
In 2022, the winner of the men’s division did 20 climbs, and the winner of the women’s division did 18 climbs. Many other participants did 10 to 14 climbs, but even four or five is no mean feat. “It’s about 850 feet of vertical, so each lap takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get up, but you have a nice recovery ride down on the Sunset lift,” said Baldwin. “It makes you forget about how much your legs are hurting!”
HoliMont is happy to host the event again this year. “The Good Climb is a wonderful event that we are honored to be a part of,” said Snowsports Director Travis Widger. “The energy and enthusiasm of the organizing committee and participants was impressive, and our team had a wonderful time being involved and helping to promote mental health awareness through Horizon Health Services.”
In 2022, Excelsior Orthopedics sent several athletic trainers to the Good Climb, and Baldwin is pleased to partner with them for the second year. Speaking of last year, Excelsior marketing coordinator Erica Brecher said, “We liked the sound of this event and felt it aligned strongly with our patient-centered values and desire to be service-driven in our community. We also really liked the mental health aspect… Last year, we ended up finding it a very rewarding experience, and seeing how much good it did in one year made us happy to come back in year two with a more official and bigger presence.”
A Double Black Diamond level sponsor, Excelsior is returning with their athletic trainers, and several employees, along with their families, will be participating in the challenge. Brecher credits Josette Fisher, director of sports medicine and wellness, with Excelsior’s support of The Good Climb and the prioritization of mental wellbeing at Excelsior. “Our athletic trainers work in 17 local high schools, so they are there at the school, on the field, traveling with these kids, and they’re the ones who see firsthand the pressure these kids put on themselves,” Brecher explained. “The importance and recognition of mental health has inspired many of our trainers to get mental health first aid training, and we have some who already have mental health backgrounds.”
Brecher, who participated in the event last year with her two-year-old, is excited to return and encourages others to join. “This is a great team bonding experience, whether you’re looking for camaraderie with people you work with or an event to grow strong bonds in your own family,” she said. “Try something new! Do it with a group of people. You’ll be glad you did.”
Baldwin suggests registered participants get up and get moving in preparation for The Good Climb. “If you’re walking or running, try intervals where you’re pushing yourself more and getting your heart rate up. If you’re a gym rat, try to stack on a bit more!” Register today at www.thegoodclimb.com. “This is a well-supported race,” Baldwin added. “There will be plenty of food, music up and down the hill, and beer for participants 21 and up.” For people who want to take part in The Good Climb but can’t make the event, the website’s donation section is the perfect way to provide support.