![Liz Stephen celebrates her win and new course record at the 2014 Climb to the Castle. Stephen clocked her fastest time and fifth win at Whiteface Mountain despite a strong headwind and exhaustion at the end of the U.S. Ski Team's training camp in Lake Placid, N.Y.](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/09/IMG_2076-e1474559285917.jpg")
For the last decade, the Climb to the Castle has been a fall staple in northeastern New York. It’s been a circled on the calendars of the U.S. Ski Team and US Biathlon national team almost every year since its inception and attracts 75 to 100 no-joke skiers to Wilmington (near Lake Placid, N.Y.) each year.
Following the 10th annual rollerski race up Whiteface Mountain’s toll road, a five-mile grind with an average 8 percent grade, we thought it would be worth looking at course records and some of the climb’s legendary winners.
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Most wins: Liz Stephen (5), Duncan Douglas (3)
Course records: Duncan Douglas (34:56.6) 2007, Liz Stephen (41:50) 2014
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![Paddy Caldwell (black shirt, yellow helmet) of the U.S. Ski Team D-team and SMST2 Team chases Rogan Brown (l) around mile four of five in Sunday’s Climb to the Castle up Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, N.Y. Caldwell won the race, followed by biathletes Russell Currier and Tim Burke in second and third, respectively. Brown (SVSEF) placed fourth and Kyle Bratrud (CXC) was fifth. (Photo: Tim Cowan)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2015/09/FullSizeRender.jpg")
2007:
Date: Oct. 13
Notes: sunny/cold; 25 degrees F
Men’s top 3:
- Duncan Douglas (34:56.6)
- Kris Freeman (37:09.1)
- Noah Hoffman (38:38.9)
Women’s top 3:
- Liz Stephen (47:22.9)
- Morgan Arritola (47:48.8)
- Dorcas Wonsavage (49:12.7)
2008:
Date: Oct. 6
Notes: *Shortened course; athletes did not reach summit because of snow.
Men:
- Duncan Douglas (32:26.44*)
- Kris Freeman (34:22.90*)
- Noah Hoffman (36:56.87*)
Women:
- Caitlin Compton (45:19.91*)
- Morgan Arritola (45:27.89*)
- Liz Stephen (45:52.83*)
2009:
Date: Oct. 7
Men:
- Taylor Fletcher (39:11.54)
- Nick Hendrickson (39:25.40)
- Kris Freeman (39:49.97)
Women:
- Morgan Arritola (50:54.85)
- Liz Stephen (51:09.57)
- Ida Sargent (51:23.85)
2010:
Date: Oct. 8
Notes: Clear weather
Men:
- Kris Freeman (38:37)
- Noah Hoffman (39:16)
- Ben Sim (40:32)
Women:
- Laura Spector (46:58)
- Morgan Arritola (48:02)
- Liz Stephen (48:43)
2011:
Date: Sept. 17
Men:
- Kris Freeman (36:18)
- Tim Burke (36:29)
- Noah Hoffman (37:03)
Women:
- Liz Stephen (44:50)
- Ida Sargent (46:14)
- Tara Geraghty-Moats (47:43)
Womens’ report | Men’s report | Video | Photos
2012:
Date: Sept. 15
Men:
- Tad Elliott (39:28)
- Pat O’Brien (39:38)
- Julian Dorais (39:46)
Women:
- Liz Stephen (43:33)
- Jessie Diggins (48:38)
- Ida Sargent (48:55)
Women’s report | Men’s report | Notes & Quotes
2013:
Date: Sept. 15
Men:
- Tim Burke (37:13)
- Simi Hamilton (39:59)
- Karl Nygren (40:04)
Women:
- Liz Stephen (42:04)
- Caitlin Gregg (45:21)
- Ida Sargent (47:19)
2014:
Date: Sept. 6
Men:
- Tim Burke (38:19)
- Russell Currier (39:02)
- Welly Ramsey (40:01)
Women:
- Liz Stephen (41:50)
- Caitlin Gregg (45:25)
- Katharine Ogden (48:12)
2015:
Date: Sept. 20
Men:
- Patrick Caldwell (37:05.2)
- Russell Currier (37:10.2)
- Tim Burke (37:16.7)
Women:
- Mary Rose (45:15.1)
- Annelies Cook (45:47.1)
- Hannah Dreissigacker (47:21.0)
2016:
Date: Sept. 18
Men:
- Duncan Douglas (37:15.6)
- Russell Currier (37:23.9)
- Paul Schommer (40:18.2)
Women:
- Hannah Rieders (55:03.1)
- Anna Lehmann (55:18.8)
- Madeline Rieders (56:26.4)
