Ski to Sea: Breaking 100 | story by Paul Haskins, race photos by Jon Brunk
In 1911, what began as more or less a publicity stunt to garner attention to the adoption of the North Cascades into the National Parks system, the Mount Baker Club, with the help of local businessmen, created the Mount Baker Marathon. Using steam trains or automobiles, fourteen solo participants set out from Bellingham to reach the lower flanks of Mount Baker where they then raced to ascend the 10,778-foot summit before descending to waiting trains or cars and racing back to town.
Joe Galbraith went down in the history books as the marathon’s first winner with a time of a little less than twelve and a half hours.
Now, 99 years and many changes later, including a name change, Ski to Sea draws more than a few thousand participants, and more than a few tens-of-thousands supporters and spectators. It is truly a race which not only showcases the physical jewels of Whatcom County—from Mount Baker to Bellingham Bay and communities in between—but also the spirit of the region in which it is held.
And while overall winners such as Galbraith, or last year’s champ—the Bagelry team—make all the history books and are lauded on the podium and in the papers, the race is really about the other thirteen original participants who dared to toe the line, and the other few thousand who do so today.
For some, it may be all about winning. For others, it’s about having fun, doing well and maybe, just maybe, breaking into the top 100.
So, on the eve of next year’s 100th anniversary and in honor of all those who dare, we celebrate last year’s 99th place team (4th in the recreational mixed division )—Team Hearthfire—with some q&a.
How long have you been participating in your particular sport?
I started cross-country skiing in 9th grade. I’m from New Hampshire and we had a team in high school that I raced on for four years. (Tamar)
I’ve been snowboarding for about 12 years (Drew)
Four years. (Dennis)
The four practice times (Eric)
I’ve been running about 6 years. I didn’t get serious about it until meeting Eric. We pushed each other to run harder and harder. We ran our first half marathon together and now Eric runs marathons all the time. I just stick to the fun stuff! (Cassie)
I grew up riding bikes and have always ridden for fun, as well as transportation. I started road biking in high school after I tore my PCL in a ski injury. I used to run XC but after my injury I moved away from running and more into competitive road biking. (Rory)
I really haven’t been canoeing that long. When I was in high school, I was on an outrigger canoe team with the Lahaina Canoe Club and we would race every Sunday. I also did some canoeing when I was a Boy Scout. But that’s about it! I’ve always liked water sports so that’s why I chose the canoe leg in the race. (Steve)
I had never canoed competitively before and had probably canoed five times total in my life before the race. (Tyler)
