Karen Blackhall of Norway accomplished her goal Sunday of climbing all 500 steps on the Pine Mountain Ski Hill, with the stroke survivor taking only an hour to reach the top. Blackhall, a National Ski Patrol member who had a stroke in January 2020, used the challenge to take pledges and donations for the Kiwanis Ski Club toward the new $3.8 million ski jump tower. Here, Blackhall works her way up the steps with her husband, Steve, and son Eric Hicks, reaching the final step in the next photo. The family then posed for a photo with friends and others at the U.P. Veterans Memorial atop Pine Mountain. In front, from left are husband Steve Blackhall; Karen’s daughter, Marisa Stack; Karen Blackhall; Ryan Goad (in Brewers cap); son Brian Hicks; sisters Kathy Alexa and Michelle Johnson; grandson Leo Stack; sister Lin Peterson and her daughter, Anna Peterson; her boyfriend, Adam Zeeb; niece Amanda Schultz, Michelle’s daughter; nephew David Alexa; and, with arms folded, Brian Peterson, Lin Peterson’s husband. Other family members in the photo include brother Mike Krause, just over Zeeb’s shoulder, and son Eric Hicks, the tall figure to the right in back. Between 75 to 100 people attended to cheer Karen on, with her efforts raising more than $6,000, ski club officials said. (Submitted photos)