Wrapping up the 15th Annual SkiScape

Last Sunday, the 6^th of January, the organizers from Kids Escaping Drugs came down to HoliMont to host the 15^th Annual SkiScape event.  SkiScape has become a time-honored tradition at HoliMont.  Every year around the beginning of the New Year, Kids Escaping Drugs partners up with HoliMont in order to raise funds for the development of its facilities and the continuation of its programs in Western New York.

Kids Escaping Drugs is an organization that is unique to this area.  In many places, kids who are in need of drug and/or alcohol treatment are placed in facilities with adults.  The Kids Escaping Drugs Campus consists of three buildings that house up to 62 chemically dependent youths ages 12 to 20. Renaissance House is a 30-bed intensive treatment facility for boys, Stepping Stones is a 16-bed girls’ residence, which combines both inpatient and continuum of care programs and the Promise House is a 16-bed continuum of care residence for boys.

“Obviously this organization (Kids Escaping Drugs) works on a daily basis dealing with some very serious issues,” said Dash Hegeman, HoliMont Marketing Director.  “HoliMont is happy to be able to add some on-snow fun to the fundraising process.  This season we had a solid turnout and unlike last seasons event it really looked like it was winter outside, which is always a good thing this time of year.”

With every chairlift open over the weekend, the Kids Escaping Drugs crowd had access to 35 trails and some exceptional conditions on the slopes. 

Each season, one of the main attractions is the Annual Firefighter Ski Race.  Firefighter crews from all over the state traveled to HoliMont to compete for bragging rights and a pretty impressive trophy.  This year the North Boston team, led by HoliMont Safety Patroller Sean Crotty, just missed out on the 1^st place trophy when a team from Palenville, NY edged them out.  The North Boston Women’s team took 3^rd place.  As always it was an exciting and very entertaining race to watch.

“Every year the firefighters who attend this event look forward to being able to ride the lifts and spend time with the young people who come out for Kids Escaping Drugs,” said Crotty.  “It gives them time to connect with young people who they might not otherwise be able to spend time with on an average day.  Plus, it connects two great traditions that they are all passionate about; firefighting and skiing.”

Back in the Main Chalet the Silent Auction featured some fantastic items that ended up collecting a lot of bids (at the time this article went to print, the fundraising total for the day was not available).  There were donated items from both the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, dining packages, golf and spa packages, products from local ski shops and much more.