Heathen Challenge backcountry ski race draws 82 competitors
Rory Kelly (#220) begins the 12th running of the Heathen Challenge ski mountaineering race at Sunlight Mountain Resort on Saturday. The event, organized by Cripple Creek Backcountry of Carbondale, drew a field of 82 competitors. The long course featured 11 miles of backcountry terrain with more than 5,000 vertical feet of climbing. Overall winner among the open class pro men was Gunnison’s Cam Smith with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, 19 seconds. The top female was Sarah Cookler, finishing in 3:10:04, and the top junior (ages 18-20) was Aspen’s Caden Klein, finishing in 2:38:07. Organizers said this year’s event saw the largest field of competitors under the age of 18. On Sunday morning, race organizers hosted a free youth mountaineering camp. Troy Hawks/courtesy
The 12th running of the Heathen Challenge ski mountaineering race at Sunlight Mountain Resort Saturday, sponsored by Cripple Creek Backcountry of Carbondale, drew a field of 82 competitors.
The long course featured 11 miles of rugged terrain with more than 5,000 vertical feet of climbing.
Overall winner among the open class pro men was Gunnison’s Cam Smith with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, 19 seconds. The top female was Sarah Cookler, finishing in 3:10:04, and the top junior (ages 18-20) was Aspen’s Caden Klein, finishing in 2:38:07.
Organizers said this year’s event saw the largest field of competitors under the age of 18. On Sunday morning, race organizers were set to host a free youth mountaineering camp.
