The world was different when Boise's Michael Tobin last won the Baldy Hill Climb, but Sun Valley's ski mountain offers the same challenge—1.86 miles and 3,140 vertical feet measured meticulously by Ketchum engineer Loren Adkins over 30 years ago.
Am,azingly, Tobin at the age of 47 is back on top in the Baldy Hill Climb.
Course record holder Tobin (37:08) captured his seventh Baldy Hill Climb victory but his first since 1989 Saturday during the 33rd staging of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation fundraiser. He was 45 seconds faster than runner-up Matt Gelso (37:53) and over two minutes ahead of five-time defending BHC champion Miles Fink-Debray (39:10).
Women's champion was Chelsea Holmes, 24, one of the top U.S. Nordic ski racers and winner of the 30-kilometer mass start freestyle race last March during the 2011 Canadian National Championships at Canmore, Alberta. Holmes (42:46) races for the SVSEF Olympic Development Team.
But Tobin's win was most remarkable on a sunny and warm late-September morning when 181 racers and hikers climbed Baldy's summit, plus 43 mountain bikers.
Community School graduate Tobin used his 1983-86 and 1988-89 Baldy Hill Climb victories as a springboard to becoming one of the world's best adventure and endurance racers. A winner of 14 duathlon international races, Tobin was inducted into the XTERRA Hall of Fame in 2009.
Whit Albright (1.54:47) and pro mountain bike racer Rebecca Rusch (2.04:40) were crowned winners of the Cheeso Double (biking followed by hiking to the top). Rusch captured the BHC bike event plus Cheeso Double for the second time in four years, both in women's record times. Dave Harrison (1.08:49) was the men's biking winner in 2011.
Hiking (recreational class) winners were Tricia Swartling (54:09) and Trent Stumph (49:56).
2011 Baldy Hill Climb Results
Sept. 24, 2011, the 33rd annual benefit activity presented by the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation's Junior Nordic ski team. A total 181 finishers to the top—90 hiking (33 female and 57 male) and 91 racing (20 female and 71 male), plus 43 biking (7 female and 36 male). Finishing times in minutes and seconds; hours, minutes and seconds. Class finish listed in parentheses after name. The 1.86-mile course rose 3,140 vertical feet from the Warm Springs ski run bridge—elevation 5,880 feet—to the top of Baldy—elevation 9,020 feet. Course records prior to the event: Michael Tobin 35:11 in 1989 and Morgan Arritola 39:53 in 2010.
FEMALE RACERS
1—Chelsea Holmes (1) 42:46
2—Susan Bates (1) 45:17
3—Nicole DeYong (2) 46:19
4—Hether Holter (1) 48:14
5—Rebecca Rusch (2) 49:16
6—Kristen Monahan (3) 51:01
7—Julie Carney (3) 54:47
8—Tizz Miller (4) 55:23
9—Gabriele Andersen (1) 56:45
10—Sara Schroeder (4) 57:09
11—Kathy Morell (2) 57:40
12—Laura Johnson (3) 59:47
13—EJ Harpham (4) 59:50
14—Jessica Schlueter (1) 1.02:23
15—Linda Andros-Clay (2) 1.03:01
16—Margaret Sundholm (5) 1.04:46
17—Jenna Nurge (1) 1.05:10
18—Annelies Ware (5) 1.07:11
19—Amy Enos (6) 1.40:41
20—JoAnn Levy (1) 2.07:18
MALE RACERS
1—Michael Tobin (1) 37:08
2-Matthew Gelso (1) 37:53
3—Miles Fink-Debray (2) 39:10
4—Colin Rodgers (1) 39:25
5—Michael Sinnott (3) 40:52
6—Jon Engen (1) 41:38
7—Steve Gwinn (2) 41:47
8—Bill Nurge (2) 42:13
9—Tim Larson (3) 42:39
10—Hannes Achhorner (2) 43:09
11—Rich Mull (3) 43:31
12—Jack Steele (1) 44:58
13—Elviz Fernandez (4) 45:02
14—Whit Albright (4) 45:17
15—Adam Greene (3) 45:34
16—Matt Zak (4) 45:46
17—Cole Morgan (1) 45:50
18—David Vanderpool (5) 46:54
19—Kevin Bolger (2) 47:00
20—Hank Dart (5) 47:00.7
21—Dave Harrison (6) 47:16
22—Henry Raff (1) 47:42
23—Mike Shane (5) 47:45
24—Will Raff (4) 48:10
25—Del Pletcher (1) 48:24
26—Mark Hadley (5) 48:27
27—John Fox (7) 49:04
28—Matt Hansen (6) 49:51
29—Peter Prudden (6) 49:57
30—Eric Chizum (7) 49:59
31—Chris Williams (8) 50:35
32—John Reuter (7) 50:45
33—John Campbell (9) 50:45.9
34—Cooper Roquet (2) 51:17
35—Taylor Benz (8) 51:46
36—Nate Scales (8) 51:51
37—Rick Knoebel (6) 52:00
38—Brad Toothman (9) 52:07
39—Jim McClatchy (7) 52:18
40—John Summers (8) 53:29
41—Cleve Johnson (2) 54:19
42—Kyle Rafford (10) 54:40.4
43—Blasé Reardon (11) 54:40.9
44—Michael Dunham (3) 54:55
45—John Kearney (10) 55:03
46—Whiz McNeal (4) 55:10
47—Scott Grill (9) 56:19
48—Walt Ingram (10) 57:28
49—Eric Hall (12) 58:11
50—Connor Smith (2) 58:41
51—Alan Pitt (13) 58:53
52—Dave Bell (11) 58:54
53—Brian Kriesien (14) 59:26
54—Landon Nurge (3) 1.00:27
55—Ralph Katsman (12) 1.01:48
56—Reidar Oyen (15) 1.02:19
57—Mike Hartmann (16) 1.02:33
58—Eric Elefson (13) 1.03:47
59—Kevin Bay (17) 1.04:10
60—Scott Curtis (14) 1.04:47
61—Don Nurge (18) 1.05:32
62—Marc Driver (19) 1.07:06
63—Julian Tyo (9) 1.07:44
64—Matt Filbert (20) 1.08:40
65—Jeff Enos (15) 1.13:53
66—Bill Josey (21) 1.14:36
67—William Young (10) 1.15:50
68—Marshall McInnis (16) 1.15:51
69—Tony Buoncristiani (22) 1.16:16
70—Robert Gregg (5) 1.26:25
71—Thomas Campion (6) 2.30:50
FEMALE HIKERS
1—Tricia Swartling 54:09
2-Julie Cord 54:52
3—Darlene Young 55:15
4—Gretchen Flint 57:15
5—Sue Engelmann 58:45
6—Carmen Finegan 1.00:29
7—Lucy Bourret 1.00:46
8—Massey Glenne 1.01:20
9—Poppy Englehardt 1.03:19
10—Sonya Johnston 1.04:20
11—Amy Brazil 1.08:01
12—Liz Kantor 1.10:49
13—Anna Lingbloom 1.10:54
14—Nicole Howe Kearney 1.12:07
15—Lyndsay Castiglia 1.12:18
16—Marit Glenne 1.21:16
17—Summer Smith 1.21:34
18—Lindsy Newman 1.23:16
19—Malin Angervall 1.23:57
20—Katrina Harmon 1.24:33
21—Sharon Pyle 1.27:38
22—Melissa Arnot 1.32:33.6
23—Virginia Anderson 1.32:33.8
24—Brooke McKenna 1.35:32.3
25—Shelley Jund 1.35:32.5
26—Shauna Thoreson 1.41:23
27—Dorrie Marks 1.41:48
28—Therese Magner 1.47:26
29—Heather Riccabona 1.49:03
30—Lauren Davis 1.51:27
31—Joan Curtis 2.02:37
HIKERS, GIRLS
1—Eliza Marks 1.41:47
2-Sage Curtis 2.02:33
MALE HIKERS
1—Trent Stumph 49:56
2-Mike Wolter 51:50
3—Bill Sundali 52:24
4—John Seiller 53:00
5—Dan Olson 53:07
6—Jason Miller 53:51
7—Ian Cavanaugh 58:38
8—Brian Webber 59:10
9—Tim Silva 59:37
10—Alex Monge 1.00:23
11—Alex Higgins 1.01:00
12—Dave Butterfield 1.01:08
13—Robin Englehardt 1.03:21
14—Randall Flynn 1.04:32
15—Richard Stopol 1.05:34
16—Jason Vontver 1.05:35
17—Daren Pennell 1.06:03
18—Ron Fairfax 1.06:24
19—John Mills 1.08:59
20—Peter Maier 1.09:44
21—Dan Gilmore 1.11:29
22—Mark Acker 1.11:54
23—William Kress 1.12:29
24—Paul Willis 1.12:48
25—Evan Castiglia 1.13:08
26—Casey Finegan 1.13:19
27—John Matteson 1.13:28
28—Thomas Logan 1.13:54
29—Sam East 1.14:18
30—Todd Kirstcatter 1.14:36
31—Joe Malone 1.18:35
32—John Cavanaugh 1.18:59
33—Tom Thompson 1.19:40
34—Steve Garish 1.20:27
35—Bill Hotz 1.22:29
36—Mike McKenna 1.22:55
37—George Caton 1.23:20
38—Bob Werth 1.23:27
39—Craig Meyers 1.25:25
40—Jed Gray 1.25:30
41—James Newman 1.26:42
42—Mark Vinton 1.26:54
43—Terry Crawford 1.28:02
44—Andy Parnes 1.29:02
45—Pat Murphy 1.33:13
46—Tom Wise 1.34:48
47—Michael Doty 1.48:10
48—Erick Fahsholtz 1.50:29
HIKERS, BOYS
1—Keene Morawitz (7th male) 56:48
2-Peter Wolter (9th male) 59:01
3—Henry Pollock 1.11:05
4—William Everitt 1.11:22
5—Flynn Stewart 1.12:22
6—Charlie Stumph 1.14:55
7—Thomas Heiden 1.20:04
8—Chris Lentz 1.22:45
9—Illiah Pfau 1.23:03
MALE BIKING RACE
1—Dave Harrison (1) 1.08:49
2-Whit Albright (2) 1.09:31
3—Matt Luhn (3) 1.09:54
4—John Reuter (1) 1.10:09
5—Mike Shane (1) 1.10:13
6—Jedd Young (2) 1.12:18
7—Eric Chizum (2) 1.12:37
8—Taylor Benz (3) 1.13:26
9—Steve Butler (1) 1.13:51
10—Mike Sherman (4) 1.13:55
11—Terry Duran (2) 1.17:04
12—Kyle Rafford (5) 1.18:09
13—Brad Toothman (3) 1.21:09
14—Olin Glenne (4) 1.23:26
15—Marc Driver (6) 1.23:51
16—Dave Bell (3) 1.24:31
17—Danny Albright (7) 1.24:51
18—Bill Josey (8) 1.25:07
19—Matt Hansen (4) 1.25:08
20—Nate Scales (5) 1.26:03
21—Blasé Reardon (9) 1.26:05
22—John Kearney (6) 1.28:46
23—Scott Grill (4) 1.29:20
24—Ben Young (7) 1.30:22
25—Scott Curtis (5) 1.32:23
26—Jeff Enos (6) 1.33:56
27—David Wheelock (7) 1.36:51
28—Chris Clay (10) 1.39:40
29—Hector Ocampo (8) 1.41:36
30—Tony Buoncristiani (11) 1.43:21
31—Rick Hilles (12) 1.50:56
32—Josh Kantor (5) 2.12:48
33—Kristian DeWolfe (1) 2.21:29
34—Griffin Curtis (2) 2.27:44
35—Lukas DeWolfe (3) 2.33:32
36—Mike Penrose (1) 2.57:28
CHEESO DOUBLE, MALE
1—Whit Albright 1.54:47
2-Dave Harrison 1.56:05
3—Mike Shane 1.57:58
4—John Reuter 2.00:53
5—Eric Chizum 2.02:38
6—Taylor Benz 2.05:14
7—Kyle Rafford 2.12:49
8—Brad Toothman 2.13:17
9—Matt Hansen 2.15:03
10—Nate Scales 2.17:55
11—Blasé Reardon 2.20:49
12-Dave Bell 2.23:24
13—John Kearney 2.23:51
14—Scott Grill 2.25:41
15—Marc Driver 2.30:58
16—Scott Curtis 2.37:16
17—Bill Josey 2.39:46
18—Jeff Enos 2.47:56
19—Tony Buoncristiani 2.59:40
DNF—Josh Kantor
FEMALE BIKING RACE
1—Rebecca Rusch (1) 1.15:23
2-Sara Schroeder (1) 1.26:31
3—Kathy Morell (1) 1.33:33
4—Abbi Fisher-Gould (2) 1.34:09
5—Annelies Ware (2) 1.52:07
6—Eva DeWolfe (3) 1.53:08
7—Amy Enos (4) 2.06:00
CHEESO DOUBLE, FEMALE
1—Rebecca Rusch 2.04:40
2-Sara Schroeder 2.23:43
3—Kathy Morell 2.31:15
4—Annelies Ware 2.59:23
5—Amy Enos 3.46:49
KINDER CLIMBERS
Daisy Scales, Tatum Ware, Ripley Scales, Zephyr Carruth, Jessica Blackburn, Ridge Dirksmeier, Huck Dirksmeier, William DeWolfe, Jett Carruth, Wes Sherman, Nick Maumus, Aidan Burchmore, Jake Blackburn and Wyatt Minor.
TIME IMPROVEMENTS OVER 2010
Racers—Michael Dunham 2:39, Hether Holter 1:30, Rich Mull 1:21, Hannes Achhorner 1:01, Tizz Miller 0:49 and Cleve Johnson 0:01.
Hikers—Richard Stopol 27:07, Randall Flynn 8:30, Daren Pennell 7:43, Paul Willis 5:11, Jason Miller 3:07, Lucy Bourret 2:48, Liz Kantor 0:51, Mike Wolter 0:50, Gretchen Flint 0:39, Sam East 0:29, James Newman 0:11 and Brian Webber 0:09.
Bikers—Rich Hilles 10:11, Bill Josey 4:11, Dave Bell 3:47, Mike Sherman 3:01, Jeff Enos 1:23, John Reuter 0:15 and Dave Harrison 0:03.
Cheeso Double—Dave Bell 31:37.
HISTORY
1979—54 finishers
Greg Stone 40:50
Gabriele Andersen (20th) 49:43
1980—48 finishers
Dave Bingham 38:17
Gabriele Andersen (14th) 47:28
1981—60 finishers
Dave Bingham 40:31
Jane Reynolds (18th tie) 50:36
1982—71 finishers
Craig Kjesbo 40:29
E.J. Harpham (35th) 51:28
1983—72 finishers
Michael Tobin 38:44
Ruthie Matthes (18th) 46:54
1984—82 finishers
Michael Tobin 39:59
Susie Patterson (6th) 42:49
1985—59 finishers
Michael Tobin 38:00
Cindy Zapponi (19th) 46:10
1986—54 finishers
Michael Tobin 35:36
Susie Patterson (7th) 44:26
1987—74 finishers
Thane Lever 39:00
Will Raff 39:00
Alison Kiesel (25th) 48:39
1988—95 finishers
Michael Tobin 37:16
Adrienne Leugers (23rd) 47:37
1989—106 finishers
Michael Tobin 35:11
Dawn Farmer (34th) 48:46
1990—87 finishers (River Run)
Kevin Sweeney 49:34
Adrienne Leugers (10th) 56:52
1991—150 finishers
Kevin Sweeney 37:30
Adrienne Leugers (19th) 46:22
1992—147 finishers
Bill Nurge 36:32
Muffy Ritz (30th) 49:06
1993—124 finishers
Adam Heaney 37:30
Kelly O'Neill (28th) 52:56
1994—120 finishers
Adam Heaney 38:49
Jane Hoopes (17th) 48:19
1995—230 finishers
Danny Albright 38:59
Adrienne Leugers (20th) 45:46
1996—213 finishers
Karl Van Calcar 38:22
Adrienne Leugers (7th) 45:57
1997—299 finishers
Bill Nurge 39:12
Kelly McCann (15th) 45:02
1998—213 finishers
Bill Nurge 38:45
Jen Douglas (8th) 42:46
1999—209 finishers
Robert Whitney 35:52
Adrienne Leugers (14th) 44:19
2000—176 finishers
Bill Nurge 38:49
Adrienne Leugers (9th) 44:21
2001—185 finishers
Whitney Albright 37:40
Adrienne Leugers (12th) 44:23
2002—173 finishers
Ryan Schmidt 37:15
Adrienne Leugers (18th) 44:55
2003—187 finishers
Ryan Schmidt 36:28
Adrienne Leugers (21st) 44:26
2004—196 finishers
Whitney Albright 37:03
Adrienne Leugers (12th) 42:43
2005—163 finishers
Whitney Albright 36:56
Jenny Tobin (8th) 41:56
2006—170 finishers
Miles Fink-Debray 35:31
Morgan Arritola (12th) 41:34
2007—131 finishers
Miles Fink-Debray 36:31
Morgan Arritola (13th) 41:40
2008—192 racing/hiking finishers
Miles Fink-Debray 37:29
Hether Holter (12th) 48:25
2008—38 biking finishers
Cody Peterson 1.07:50
Rebecca Rusch (10th) 1.19:26
2008—11 Baldy Double finishers
Bill Nurge 1.55:25
Rebecca Rusch (3rd) 2.11:09
2009—226 racing/hiking finishers
Miles Fink-Debray 36:31
Adrienne Leugers (7th) 45:04
2009—44 biking finishers
Matt Luhn 1.05:53
Kim Taylor (13th) 1.25:15
2009—24 Cheeso Double finishers
Dave Harrison 1.54:09
Kim Taylor (6th) 2.16:57
2010—224 racing/hiking finishers
Miles Fink-Debray 36:23
Morgan Arritola (4th) 39:53
2010—47 biking finishers
Matt Luhn 1.05:35
Sara Schroeder (18th) 1.24:18
2010—28 Cheeso Double finishers
Bill Nurge 1.51:08
Sara Schroeder (14th) 2.20:38
2011—181 racing/hiking finishers
Michael Tobin 37:08
Chelsea Holmes (10th) 42:46
2011—43 biking finishers
Dave Harrison 1.08:49
Rebecca Rusch (11th) 1.15:23
2011—24 Cheeso Double finishers
Whit Albright 1.54:47
Rebecca Rusch (6th) 2.04:40
Baldy Hill Climb women’s winner Chelsea Holmes, one of the country’s best female Nordic ski racers, arrives at Baldy’s summit Saturday. Photo by Willy Cook
