The 2019 Westmore Mountain Challenge was a great success – our fastest finisher, Andrew MacGibbon, beat out the 2018 fastest time by over an hour at 3:57 – he took us so off guard back at the finish that we had to rush to set up our timing tent! We were especially proud to have some NorthWoods home team staff members, Kenyon Fatt and Caleb Kessler also beat out last year’s fastest time, coming in 2nd and 3rd overall at 4:22 and 4:29 respectively.
The day started out beautiful – partly cloudy with intermittent light drizzle, and mid 60s with brilliant foliage throughout the mountains making for fantastic views of the Kingdom. The rain picked up in the afternoon, and we take off our hats to the many persistent hikers who finished the full 26 in steady pouring rain as the afternoon and evening progressed. Luckily, hikers this year were able to beat off the chill with piping hot grilled cheeses, prepared by volunteer Chris Scott (in full cow costume no less!) at the Long Pond lunch station. Overall, the body of hikers as a whole were faster than last year, with an average time of 8:59 vs last year’s 9:26, and we had over 30 more finishers of the full marathon length (91 this year, 58 last year). It was wonderful to see many familiar faces enjoying the views and triumphantly crossing the finish line.
Other highlights included a hiker who flew over from England to participate in the Challenge with her friends – quite possibly the farthest anyone has come for the WMC so far, and two challengers, (Lucas Switser and Sebastian Schneider) under the age of 10!
A big shout-out to our volunteers and local emergency services, who helped keep our aid stations manned, our hikers safe and accounted for, our tables fully stocked with food, and our morale high! Also thank you to our Westmore Mountain Challenge Sponsors! This event would not be possible without the support of the organizations listed below, including the gracious permission and permits from the VT Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, financial support from Community National Bank, VT, Passumpsic Bank, Essex House And Tavern, and C & C Supermarket – Plus wonderful food, prizes and swag gifts for participants from: Outdoor Gear Exchange, Darn Tough Vermont Socks, Badger Balm, Skida, Bag Balm, Jasper Hill Farm, KIS Kombucha, Cabot Creamery Co-operative, Newport Natural Market & Cafe, Le Belvedere, Shaw’s Supermarket, Derby Market, and Price Chopper.

Breakdowns:

Total Registrants: 175
Total Day-of Participants: 150
Total 26-mile Finishers: 91
Total Trail Finishers (20.5 miles): 38
Women top 5
1 Susan Dodge 5:37
2 Lucy Donaghy 6:16
3 Aimee Pascale 6:26
4 Eloise Girard 6:41
5 Danielle Speer 7:03
Men top 5
1 Andrew MacGibbon 3:57
2 Kenyon Fatt 4:22
3 Caleb Kessler 4:29
4 Edward Southward  4:30
5 Colin Rodgers  4:37
All Under-18s by category
Full 26 miles
1 Cole Royer 5:48
2 Joshua Kelley 5:52
3 Nathan Browne 6:13
4 (tied) Cole Alexander & Gage Coe 6:14
5 Isaiah Robins 7:12
6 Lucas Switser 11:01
20 Mile Trail (All 5 peaks)
Sebastian Schneider (20 mi)  6:57
Lillian Fauteux – (20 mi) 11:13
 
Half Legs (untimed)
Maggie Veloza 
Rowan Berrian