World-renowned skier and Conservationist, Donny Roth sits
down with the Colorado Mountain Club to discuss the ins and outs of skiing
abroad; his experiences in Chile, how to get started, and what makes all the travel
worth it. To learn more about Donny Roth and hear his first-hand account of
backcountry skiing in the foreign lands of Chile, come join us for his
exclusive talk on January 30th: Exploring the Cordillera of Chile.
You're part
professional skier, part guide, and part conservationist. That’s pretty impressive at such a young
age. Tell us a little about your journey
getting started.
Ha! I haven't been
called "young" in a while. I
am actually thirty-seven. This is my
twentieth year working in the ski industry.
I was an avid ski racer all through high school, so when I graduated I
naturally picked up ski instructing while attending University. I’ve moved through a lot of positions in my
time, and worked in bigger and bigger mountain environments. All of this eventually
led to me becoming a heli-ski guide in South America. With traveling all over
the world, this is now my nineteenth consecutive winter without a proper
summer! Working as an athlete, guide,
writer, and blogger means I am constantly learning and being challenged, and
this makes it easier for me to keep going season after season.
You ski all over the
globe. What attracted you most to skiing
abroad? And more specifically, why
Chile?
I don't think I was actually attracted to skiing abroad as
much as I was attracted to simply exploring foreign places. Skiing just turned out to be the best way to
do this. I wasn't able to rub two nickels
together for most of my life, so working in different countries was the best
way to get there. I don't know why I had
such a strong curiosity about Chile. I
think it's a logical place to find adventure – it has everything from the
mountains to the ocean, from the driest desert in the world to the craziest
weather known to man. It only has one main road, and there are wild places in every
direction from this road. They speak a different language and have a much
different culture, but it wasn't so different that it was impossible to grasp
either.
What was the most
memorable part of your trip to Chile?
I would have to say, the sunsets or Tyler's (writer for Backcountry Magazine) smile. It seemed like every night we had different
light come sunset, and each one of them was magical. Each evening the three of us were allowed to
just be quiet while we watched the sky turn crazy colors. The thoughts that ran through my mind were
thoughts of being content, which is something I am not very often. As for Tyler, he had never done anything like
this before, and I know that he surprised himself every day. He killed it, and he never stopped grinning
because of this. To get to witness that
was a privilege.
While you’ll be
discussing your trip to Chile during your talk next week, we know that you also
ski all over the world, including Asia and different areas of South America.
For someone that has wanted to ski abroad but has yet to take the leap, how
would you suggest they get started?
Keep the trip as logistically simple as possible. Don't try to cram too much in. If you try to visit too many locations in too
short of a time you will feel like you're constantly traveling and you will
only see the tourist attractions. Spend
time in a place – get to know it and its people. Pick a spot and give yourself time to explore
its nooks and crannies.
What are 3 things to
keep in mind when looking to ski abroad?
More than anything, I would say that (1) you have to be
flexible. Often most things don't go
like clockwork. Building time into your plan
to accommodate for unforeseen changes really relieves a lot of stress. (2) Travel lightly, but bring your own skis
and boots. Rental gear can be really
difficult, especially in developing countries.
Get a ski bag with wheels. Be
able to move 100% of your gear all at the same time, for at least a couple
hundred yards, and up a flight of stairs.
(3) Leave all your stereotypes and preconceived notions at home. The best food might be from a street vendor, the
most knowledgeable man in the village might not have any teeth, buses might be
better than planes. I see so many people
get frustrated because they think the system doesn't work. It does work, it just works differently. The key is to not look for what you're used
to, but to see what's actually there.
What is the most
difficult thing about skiing abroad?
Without a doubt, it's getting information about the
mountains and the conditions. Most of
the time the information you’ll need isn't even being collected, much less
shared. If it's South America or Asia,
there is no real standard protocol to follow, so any information you gather may
basically be hearsay. Maps are outdated,
fuzzy, and scaled too large. Guidebooks
are also non-existent, so asking around town can definitely lead you on a wild
goose chase. However, it’s all a part of the adventure, the good and the bad.
What is the most
rewarding thing about skiing abroad?
The people you meet when you're off the beaten path. It's the guy that picks you up while
hitch-hiking and invites you into his home for the night, or it's the husband
and wife that own a restaurant and sit down with you for dinner. It's the young
people that bring you to a real asado.
It's the conversations in two broken languages, where when words fail
you, paying attention to the other person's entire being is the only way to
understand their meaning.
What are 3 things to
keep in mind when looking for a guide in the backcountry, whether in the States
or abroad?
Experience, certification, and professionalism – in any
order. The term "guide" is over
used. As a client, you want to ski with
someone that has seen a lot and can handle change gracefully. You want someone that is trained to be
level-headed and operates with the appropriate margin of safety. You want someone that is part of, or is, a
reputable business. Cutting corners by
using dodgy travel, or food, or lodging generally just ends up in mild discomfort
and really funny stories. But going with a guide that was the cheaper
alternative can also have grave consequences, so be smart!
We know you see the
direct connection between being an outdoor recreationist and the importance of
conservation, but that’s not always the case for others. Why do you think that is?
There are as many reasons as there are people – everyone is
different. I do think that most of us
have cluttered our lives to the point where we can't see the forest through the
trees. We can't see the problems around
us because of all the junk in front of us.
The hectic pace of our daily lives consumes us and saving the wilderness
doesn't register as important. In the U.S.
we are really good at hiding the extraction of natural resources – clear cuts
aren't visible from highways, mines are often behind mountains, and oil and gas
derricks are often pretty small on the landscape. And if we are honest about it, we have to
admit that we are spoiled. We like the
conveniences of modern life, and we want to bring them with us into the
mountains. This is a mistake on our
part.
Keeping conservation
and outdoor ethics in mind, what are some things that skiers should think about
when skiing aboard, particularly in a developing country like Chile?
I try my best to encourage people to use small, local
businesses. Avoid the big, cookie-cutter
resorts that pander to masses.
Backcountry skiing is a great way to do this. Giving your money to large corporations only
increases social stratification and spreads non-environmentally friendly
development. Go to national parks and
reserves – and pay the fees. Use small,
local hotels and take an interest in their conservation efforts. The governments of developing countries are
not blind to the problems we have created for ourselves, but they need revenue
for their social systems also. Tourism
is one way that they can justify preserving wild places.
For next week’s
presentation, if you could leave one take away with your audience what would it
be?
I don't want to give away my punch line, but I can tell you
that there is one. This story I tell
won’t be one about an epic journey of athletic prowess. It's about the value of space, and it's told
through a few characters. I think it will be a while before the story really,
truly ends.
