The Senior Connection is the beneficiary of all proceeds (participant fees, sponsorships, and donations) from the 2022 Baldy Challenge, but it’s the memory of Chris Hilleary that will be honored this month. The event kicked off Feb. 1 and wraps up Feb. 28—the final day of the month.
Skiers pay $30 at PK’s Ski & Sports, Apple’s Bar & Grill, or The Senior Connection to ski all the runs on Baldy during the 28 days of February and be entered into a raffle for the chance to win fun prizes. Completed run cards need to be turned in to PK’s Ski & Sports by March 1 to qualify for drawings on March 7 for a chance to win great prizes, including a 2022-2023 ski pass.
In 2021, the event raised $11,125 for The Senior Connection.
The 11th Annual Baldy Challenge is dedicated to the memory of Chris Hilleary who, in 2021, skied over 1 million vertical feet on Baldy. He clocked himself flying down the mountain at 73 miles per hour and skinned up to the top of the mountain, reaching the peak at 9,150 feet. He skied Baldy 68 days, skate skied in the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains 28 days, enjoyed four ski days in Park City, and heli-skied in Mazama, for a total of over 100 days. Hilleary passed suddenly on a highly anticipated fishing trip in Anchorage, Alaska, while with friends and business associates.
While celebrating its 11th year in 2022, it was Lee, a.k.a. Leisure Nelson, who was the inspiration behind the concept. He had been doing it for years! Baldy Challenge volunteer committee member Chelle Gourlay shared, “Several old-time Baldy skiers were getting a little bored. We needed a challenge. I was an owner at PK’s Ski & Sports at the time and was looking for a way to support a local nonprofit. We came up with the concept to challenge our own skiing right along with the fun challenge of fundraising in a fun manner. That was 2012 and now here we are in 2022 and it is still going!” Serving on the completely volunteer committee since the inaugural year with Chelle are Janet Appleton and Jolie Dunn. Charlotte Gourlay and Maggie Thurston have joined the committee along the way.