After a pandemic hiatus, the GORE-TEX Kahtoola Uphill came back bigger and better than ever. The event raised an all-time of high of more than $57,000 to help us ensure more northern Arizona children experience Camp and develop a love for science, nature and environmental stewardship.
364 racers, including 46 Camp Colton alumni, took one of three courses up and down Arizona Snowbowl. Whether running or walking or on snowshoes or skis, people from ages 3 to 73 united to raise money for our great cause.
For Aisling King, Friends of Camp Colton board member, this year’s event was especially memorable.
Creating a Family Tradition
Raised in Flagstaff, she has competed in the Uphill several times — but a special guest and his connection to the cause made the experience even more special.
“The Kahtoola Uphill is a fun, yet extremely intense race that I have ‘won’ once and barely completed a few other times,” she said. “It has come full circle for me as my son, Kaiser, not only competed for his first time this year, but also took first in his age group in the Agassiz climb.”
Kaiser was especially excited to join the race after enjoying Flagstaff coming-of-age tradition of a week at Camp Colton last fall.
“The Kahtoola Uphill is a fun, yet extremely intense race that I have ‘won’ once and barely completed a few other times. It has come full circle for me as my son, Kaiser, not only competed for his first time this year, but also took first in his age group in the Agassiz climb.”
Connecting to the Cause
Although it has been more than 25 years since Aisling went to Camp, she still remembers it vividly.
“Understanding the topography and complicated history of the San Francisco Peaks was far less significant than managing the profuse sweating of palms when partnered with my most recent crush during a square dance,” she said. “Yet somehow I found myself in a world where all those things happened in a single day at Camp Colton.”
Aisling remembers the sense of awe she felt when a Camp Colton counselor helped her visualize a when the pre-volcano range summit was 4,000 feet higher than the current height of Humphrey’s Peak. At the time, her 12-year-old brain couldn’t imagine a mountain that high. She reflected on that as she heaved herself up the Snowbowl ski slope during this year’s race.
“My glutes find it impossible to believe there was ever a hill higher or steeper than the one we are currently braving,” Aisling recalled. “But I harness a strength almost as great as when I had to do the do-si-do with Alex Baul, hoping that my square dance skills would make him love me forever.”
Celebrating the Indomitable Flagstaff Community
Speaking of strength, Aisling was impressed with everyone who participated.
“I saw a new mom hike with a baby attached to her chest, and 7-year-olds zipped past me, but I assured myself we’re all just doing our best out here,” she said.
Amidst a pandemic, that Flagstaff spirit is especially appreciated.
“Some participants may have lost a loved one or dealt with the effects of COVID-19 in a way that makes the 8,000-foot elevation feel like a cruel enemy to their lung capacity, or maybe some just haven’t been in a crowd this big since before the start of the pandemic,” Aisling says. “But that’s something I’ve always known about Flagstaff. We show up. Some of us learned how to do that early on at Camp Colton, as we unrolled our Strawberry Shortcake sleeping bags next to our friend’s GORE-TEX insulated camping cocoon and realized we had a very different night’s sleep ahead of us. Others learned it as they became immersed in this tight-knit community.”And that community inspires her. “Flagstaff is a community where the star celebrity athlete also crafts beautiful, handmade cutting boards for the winners — a community where even if we haven’t seen each other for two years, there is still a hug and a smile. We’re a community where those strong enough to race to the top cheer on those who barely make it down.”
Most of all, Aisling appreciates the community coming together to support the Camp she loves so much.
“I’m even more thankful for this community where people show up, dress up and run up a mountain — all to support the youth of this city so that they, too, can learn and love this mountain — and if they’re really lucky, get paired with their crush at the square dance.”
