Shehan claims Whitefish Whiteout skimo title
MATT BALDWIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 2 months AGO
Hagadone Media Montana REGIONAL MANAGING EDITOR Matt Baldwin is the regional editor for Hagadone Media Montana, where he helps guide coverage across eight newspapers throughout Northwest Montana. Under his leadership, the Daily Inter Lake received the Montana Newspaper Association’s Sam Gilluly Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. A graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism, Baldwin has called Montana home for nearly 30 years. He and his wife, Sadie, have three daughters. He can be reached at 406‑758‑4447 or [email protected]. IMPACT: Baldwin’s work helps ensure Northwest Montana residents stay connected to their communities and informed about the issues that shape their everyday lives. | February 10, 2021 11:00 AM
Whitefish resident Joel Shehan ascended more than 5,600 vertical feet in just over two hours to claim the Whitefish Whiteout ski mountaineering title Saturday at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
The annual race challenges endurance skiers to climb up and descend various technical routes on Big Mountain. The 2021 long course covered 8.1 miles and 5,650 vertical feet, taking competitors up the Benny Up route, into Hellroaring Basin, over to the Haskill Slide area and finally to East Rim. A winter storm dumped about 6 inches of powder snow on the course Saturday, adding to the challenge.
Shehan, 43, finished the grueling course in 2:04:41 to edge out runner-up Alan Adams, 41, who crossed the finish at 2:06:37. Claiming third on the podium was Sammy Boo-Ray, 37, with a time of 2:07:12.
On the women’s side, Chelsee Pummel, 36, clocked an impressive 2:23:38 to take first place and 10th overall. Cassidy Daley was second among women with a 2:47:37, and Danielle Crawford was third at 3:16:42.
Christopher Jones was the first long-course competitor to ascend the Benny Up portion of the route, with a time of 27:22. He placed sixth overall.
Matt Seeley, 51, won the mens masters division with a time of 2:16:24. Chance Cooke, 55, was second at 2:24:0, followed by Keith Meehan, 47, 2:42:55.
Whitefish Whiteout, Feb. 6, 2021
Overall top-10
- Joel Shehan 2:04:41.4
2 Alan Adams 2:06:37.1
3 Sammy Boo-Ray 2:07:12.3
4 Caleb Ambrose 2:08:45.7
5 Jonas David 2:11:01.5
6 Christopher Jones 2:12:07.1
7 Craig Hertz 2:13:14.9
8 Tucker Hoefler 2:15:20.1
9 Matt Seeley 2:16:24.8
10 Chelsee Pummel 2:23:38.2
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