Warren resident Marilyn Ruseckas didn’t let frigid temps or technical trail conditions slow her down as she led from start to finish in the first ever Climb It For Climate Uphill Race. With 1,700 feet of climbing packed into 1.7 miles, the course requires the ability to blaze on relatively flat cat tracks before ascending the steep and technical mogul slopes of Mt. Ellen. Ruseckas finished in a speedy 35:22, catching the timing crew stationed at Walt’s by surprise. Our second woman, Amanda Kuczmiec of Arlington, MA, came in fifth overall with a time of 45 minutes flat.
On the men’s side, William Sharkey, a Sugarbush employee from Rochester, VT, notched a second-place overall finish while leading the men in a time of 38:02. He was followed closely by Sean Ring of Concord, MA, just 30 seconds behind. Taylor Evans of Wellesley, MA, rounded out the men’s podium with a finishing time of 44:15.
Participants were treated to swag from Protect Our Winters (POW), one of the sponsors of the Climb It For Climate series, while relaxing in Walt’s after the race. Everyone gathered to cheer on other participants and to enjoy a few warm moments before skiing back down to the base of the mountain under a full moon.
The Climb It For Climate series is a joint effort between Friends of the Mad River, Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition, and Sugarbush. Remarking on the success of this first event, Friends’ education and outreach manager, Luke Foley, exclaimed, “We’re just so excited to continue the momentum of the Climb It series and to launch this fun and inclusive uphill race.”
For those who missed out, the next Climb It For Climate Uphill Race will take place on Saturday, February 28, at Mt. Ellen. Information and registration can be found at https://www.friendsofthemadriver.org/events.html
This year's Climb It For Climate series wraps with a final Uphill Rally on March 28. Following a group tour, this winter’s final event will highlight women in leadership roles at the intersection of outdoor recreation, sustainability, and climate activism.
