Bicyclist gears up for long ride to raise money
Tim Hinderman is taking a cross-country bike trip to raise money for two skiing-related organizations — the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation Ski Team Training Center and the Ski Heritage Center Museum of Skiing.
Hinderman is executive director of the ski foundation and one of the founders of the ski museum being developed in Whitefish. He will depart June 13 from Antelope Wells, N.M., on a 2,700-mile off-road cycing trip to Banff, Alberta.
The ride, an annual race called the Tour Divide, follows backcountry roads and trails through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta. The route crosses the Continental Divide 30 times, features more than 200,000 total vertical feet of climbing and reaches its highest point of 11,900 feet atop Indiana Pass in southern Colorado.
In Montana the route goes through the Flathead Valley and Whitefish before heading toward Upper Whitefish, over Red Meadow Pass to the North Fork Road and then back over Trail Creek Divide to Eureka and Roosville.
Hinderman said his primary goal is to raise $25,000 for the two ski-related endeavors.
“Both of these are exciting breakthrough projects that are in the final stages of planning, and just need a funding boost to set them in motion,” Hinderman said. “I’m hoping that per-mile pledges for my ride will provide that boost.”
Hinderman already has received pledges totaling $8,600. Pledges can be made in any amount from a penny per mile to a dollar per mile or more. A pledge of a penny per mile will raise $27 while a dollar per mile will raise $2,700.
Pledges can be sent to tim.hinderman@fvsef.org and can be designated for the Ski Heritage Center, Team Training Center or as a general donation to the foundation.
“I’m really looking forward to making it to Whitefish,” Hinderman said. “One of the reasons I decided to ride from south to north is that when I get to Whitefish I’m only a few days from my ultimate destination.”
The Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation was established in 1973. It is a valleywide nonprofit organization dedicated to athletic, academic and personal excellence through educational and competitive programs in skiing.
The Ski Heritage Center Museum of Skiing will occupy the former Mountain Trails Saddle Club building on Wisconsin Avenue in Whitefish. Phase I improvement plans include a kitchen remodel, offices, Hall of Fame displays and museum exhibits.
The foundation’s Ski Team Training Center improvements will include a snow treatment system, lighting improvements, expanded video capability and extended training lift operation. All pledges designated for the ski team will benefit the training center improvement program.
With a goal of logging around 100 miles per day, Hinderman hopes to complete his journey in under 30 days. The current record for the fastest overall time is 15 days, 16 hours, 14 minutes.
The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is part of the Missoula-based Adventure Cycling Association’s extensive route network that includes road bike and mountain bike routes and tours throughout the US and Canada. Many of the heavily laden riders seen all summer long in the Flathead are either participants in the Tour Divide Race or bicyclists along the route.
Go to www.tourdivide.org/leaderboard to follow all the Tour Divide Race riders in real time starting June 13. Hinderman will post a blog at www.30cdxings.com.
For more information, contact Hinderman at 406-885-2730 or tim.hinderman@fvsef.org.