Sierra Designs is proud to announce the addition of Donny Roth to their roster of sponsored athletes. A year-round skier and outdoor athlete, Donny calls Boulder, CO home and typically skis 180 days per year. A certified avalanche instructor and writer, Donny can often be found sharing his knowledge and experiences with both aspiring and experienced mountain athletes around the world.
Donny is passionate about human powered adventure, and shares his stories on his website, AlpineAmbitions.com. For some insight into what inspires Donny and his life as a sponsored athlete, guide, and ambassador, we caught up with him in South America to ask the following questions.
1. Why skiing? How did you get involved with this sport and why do you love it so much?
I honestly don’t know “why.” It is definitely not a conscience decision. I started skiing not long after learning to walk, but not really as a sport, it was more like something to do when the playground was covered in snow. That being said, I connected with it immediately. It has been the focus of my dreams, ambitions, and energy for my entire life.
2. What type of terrain do you like to ski best?
I can answer this definitely. Without a doubt I prefer big, steep mountains. I look for particular features like clean lines of snow mixed with some technical challenges. I don’t necessarily want to be terrified for the entire outing, but I like it if the terrain has my attention.
3. You're obviously skiing some pretty gnarly stuff, what precautions do you take on a new (first?) descent?
I always give myself enough time when getting into new terrain. Depending on the scale of the objective, I may spend days skiing and touring in the area before actually getting onto the descent line. I want a good view of the line before hand, so this often means skiing across the valley or on smaller, adjacent peaks. Now, if I am really pushing myself, the greatest potential hazard is probably unforeseen ice. The potential of a slip probably scares me more than anything else. For this reason, I find myself skiing with a harness, rope and equipment to build an anchor on a more regular basis. And no matter what, I can always turn back or find an alternate route. Needing to return to a mountain only heightens the rewards when it’s finally done.
Experience is absolutely essential. It is so rare when things go as planned. When the trip diverts from the ideal it is previous experiences that allow one to build a new plan. Beyond this, you begin to recognize patterns, which allow for better guesses about what will happen next. I am often reminded of a story a coach once shared with me about the soccer great, Pelé, who remained at the top of the sport late into his career; not because he was still the fastest or most talented, but because he understood the game better than anyone on the field. He was always positioned properly because he saw the game differently than those with less experience. Athleticism can be awe-inspiring, but it is good decision-making that gets the job done more consistently. This comes from experience.
5. You're in South America for quite some time. How did you prepare for this both from a logistics (resupplies, etc) and physical training perspective?
While I am at home, I begin thinking about logistics months ahead of time. I easily make dozens of lists of various degrees of detail. If I think of something – gear needed, a possible solution to lodging or transportation, etc. – I write it down. I don’t take anything for granted. I consider every possibility that I can imagine.
Physically, I actually have a very regimented training schedule. I spend a lot of time at a gym called The Alpine Training Center. The strength I build in the gym really pays once I am trying to perform with a pretty big pack on my back. Aside from the gym I like to ride my bike because, aerobically speaking, it is similar to a day of ski touring. I follow a schedule, am conscious of what I eat, and try to get enough sleep, although this is probably the hardest part.
Here in South America, I actually rent a cabaña on the coast that I use for a preparation between trips. This allows me to only take what I need for any particular trip to the mountains, and I can do all the random errands that need to be done. Chile averages about 100-miles from coast to cordillera. This makes it incredibly easy to leave the winter environment and get a few days of warmer weather, which is truly healing.
6. What are the biggest mental challenges?
There are a few mental challenges. The most basic is that I am very aware that I am “missing” summer. When I am in the mountains and in the snow everything seems natural, but when I come out for a day or two I am constantly reminded that my friends are riding bikes and barbecuing. Beyond this, I am always changing gears. I will spend two-weeks going full speed as a guide or an athlete. Then I get a few days to rest, but I know I will have to put the pedal to the floor again very soon. Lastly, it’s a very solitary profession. I spend a lot of time alone. I am pretty comfortable with that now, but the depths of our souls can be scary places – spending time along forces us to confront those darker places.
7. What role do you feel gear played on this journey?
The Andes are huge mountains, and the Pacific Ocean can nearly be seen from some of the summits. The weather here can fierce, and the elevation differences means that precipitation can come as torrential downpours or artic-like snow storms. Beyond that, over the course of three months here, I will travel thousands of kilometers using airplanes, buses, taxis, horse-drawn carts, mules, and simply on my back. There is no room for superfluous weight. Absolutely everything must function perfectly, hopefully serve multiple purposes, and be ready to take an absolute beating. I spend countless hours getting the equipment dialed in perfectly.
8. What type of food did you bring? Can you describe a typical day’s rations?
South American markets are not anything like our stores in the U.S. If you want to cook a slow meal at home, then there is always unbelievable meat, produce, and wine available. But as for the type of food necessary for fueling a day of ski touring, the options are lacking. I tend to bring some essentials from home, and then it’s quite a bit of work when I arrive to gather up appropriate food in the local markets.
When I am headed out in the morning, I eat about a cup of instant oatmeal with dried fruit, nuts, and some source of protein mixed in. I always make a cup of coffee. I drink a liter of water, and then refill my bottle to drink during the day. This generally happens quickly because there is always a lot to do in the morning, and I need to get out the door.
While touring I typically burn between 500 and 700 calories per hour. I carry a bag of food that is primarily carbohydrates – sandwiches, Clif Bar products, and some sweet stuff because it goes down easily. I bring a little meat and cheese in a tortilla, but not much. As soon as I am back I try to get a bowl of clear soup, and I eat some walnuts and dates. This greatly improves recovery.
Dinner is the standard fare. If I am camping, it is simple meals like pasta and rice with some fats mixed in. If I am based in a town or a hotel I eat meat and salad and try not to eat too many carbohydrates. All said and done, I will eat between 3000 and 5000 calories per day.
9. You’re taking some SD gear with you. Which items and why did you choose Sierra Designs?
This is my first season in Sierra Designs gear. I am absolutely blown away with the quality of the product and the level of functionality. Clearly, the two pieces that stand out in my mind as items I will have with me everyday are the Vapor Hooded Jacket, and Prima Fusion Jacket. Ski touring is an aerobic activity in a tough environment. The Vapor Hoody has sheltered me from wind and precipitation yet never gotten clammy on the inside. Basically, no matter how hard I am pushing, or what the weather throws in my direction, I have managed to be comfortable. I like the Prima Fusion because the precipitation here can be pretty wet. While stopped to eat, or descending, or just dealing with a technical section, it is nice to have the combination of a waterproof shell and synthetic insulation.
10. This trip is pretty amazing on a lot of levels, what is one thing you will never forget about skiing (wherever you are)?
It’s typically not the skiing I remember first. For example on this recent trip into the Andes with Sweetgrass Productions, we skied so many great lines, but those are not will stand out. The reality is that unless the peak is really special, like a first descent, or a classic couloir in perfect conditions, once I start the descent I am operating on instinct until I hit the bottom. But for this trip I was traveling with people I had never met, and we hit so many obstacles on our way to getting into the cordillera. It is getting to know these people, and the people we met along the way; the way we solved problems; and the opportunities created that stand out as unique moments. These are the things that define any particular trip. Beyond this I remember the environment of the place – maybe it’s animals, or a crazy ice feature, or even a spectacular sunset.
