THUNDER BAY – A unique fundraising event was held at Mount Baldy on Saturday. Matterhorn Madness was back after four years, and saw over a hundred climbers of all ages and skill levels.
Competitors were challenged to race up the Main Hill 12 times, which would be equivalent to the distance between the basecamp and summit of the actual Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps.
Erin Beagle, executive director of Roots Community Food Centre, said the race could be completed individually or in teams.
“Individuals go up and down on their own the entire time. It's incredible that they sign up and this year we have 14 people doing it solo, which is the most we've ever had.
“We have UpRiver Running here who are supporting all the solos because it's a different race for them, they have to be a totally different mindset to do it."
Some of the teams consist of family, colleagues, friends or sports teams, she said.
“You can put together a team with up to 12 people, the team has to do 12 ups cumulatively. So, if you have 12 people, you each do one lap. If you have six, you each do two and so on.
“We count their laps at the top. When they get there, they call the next person and up they go,” Beagle said.
They don’t want them running down to try to get their next person because they don't want injuries on the way down, she said.
“We're also partnered with BT Nordic, who's also getting some of the funds this event. We're excited to have another community group that benefits from everybody joining and we needed something that was different.”
This is a totally different kind of challenge that you just don't get anywhere else, Beagle said.
The money raised will go into helping Roots Community Food Centre’s programs run, she said.
“It's a race for anybody to try out. There are definitely people who have been here every year.”
Throughout the years the event has raised over 40 thousand dollars. Beagle said they usually don't have a fundraising goal, but are expecting to raise around seven to eight thousand dollars for Roots and Big Thunder Nordic Ski team.
Fourteen people did the challenge individually, including Finn Dodgson who was the first individual to cross the finish line at just under an hour and 54 minutes.
“It was really hard but it was really fun, beautiful day for it. I've never done it before,” Dodgson said.
Dodgson said he was not used to this type of race.
“ it's always either up or always down. So, you're never moving at a constant pace like you would in a flatter race. It feels like you're going really slow but you're still working really hard.
“I love endurance events, running, cycling as well. I guess I love a good challenge.”
Dodgson thanked UpRiver Running, Fresh Air, Roots Community Centre and Mount Baldy.
“The event went away during the pandemic, but they brought it back and that takes a huge amount of support and it takes so many volunteers and everybody was so supportive out there. It makes a huge difference and makes it way more fun,” he said.
Eric Berglund was apart of a relay team named ‘old guys rule.’
“We had six participants on our team. We’re just a bunch of dads from Big Thunder Nordic Ski Club and came out to have a fun day out here. We each did two laps and everybody felt really good about their accomplishments.
“Certainly, on a day like this when it's really warm out, we only did two laps each but at the same time we're like, ‘whoa, ok’ that was good for today. No matter how much you want to challenge yourself, that was plenty in this kind of heat,” Berglund said.
Berglund said in races like this you just have to keep moving.
“Keep a solid pace going up the hill because it is really steep. The best thing is just trying to maintain some momentum.”
Berglund plans to race next year as well, whether it be solo or relay again.
