Butterfield back on top in Big Mtn. Hill Climb

Matt Butterfield regained the title of "King of the Mountain" by edging out Ben Parsons by 41 seconds at the annual Huckleberry Hill Climb at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Sept. 4.

Butterfield tallied a 1:09:10, more than five minutes faster than last year's winning time of 1:15:21 posted by Todd Tanner.

Elite cyclists Parsons and Butterfield have battled each other in the race over several years. Butterfield won in 2008 at 1:13:30, and Parsons won in 2007 at 1:10:00. Both athletes ride for the Sportsman Ski Haus cycling team.

Jacqueline Gaertner grabbed "Queen of the Mountain" with her time of 1:39:00.

Mountain bikers rode from the base of Big Mountain Road to the resort's village, then followed the Summit Trail to the top of Big Mountain. The course is 13 miles long and climbs about 3,700 vertical feet. Riders were only permitted to use one bike for the entire race.

The event capped off the mountain bike race season at Whitefish Mountain Resort. The race was once a part of the annual Whitefish Summer Games and followed a traditional mountain bike race format. Since the demise of the games, the resort has continued the event, which has since evolved into the hill climb.

Women 18-29

Anya Shawback 1:42:53

Women 40 plus

Jacqueline Gaertner 1:39:10

Dusty Hosek 1:47:42

Sheli Thomas 1:58:35

Men 17 and under

LJ Stringer 3:46:44

Men 18-29

Matt Butterfiekd 1:09:31

Mathias Korarek 1:26:00

Men 30-39

Ben Parsons 1:10:20

Russ Schneider 1:26:05

Caleb Stolte 1:28:27

Trever Stolte 1:38:04

Ian Collins 1:39:53

Men 40 plus

Tim Noonan 1:15:50

Eric Greenberg 1:17:41

Tim Gaertner 1:22:48

Jay Shaver 1:23:52

Paul Conrad 1:30:30

John Holmstul 1:38:45

Mike Henson 1:40:58

James Pelland 1:44:14

Mark Van Everen 1:47:06

Russell Mallams 1:47:10

Steve Shea 2:09:25