Topher Donahue

Topher Donahue is an award-winning mountaineer and journalist by training, and a storyteller for the modern world by experience. Born the son of a mountain guide in a small cabin near Rocky Mountain National park, Donahue began guiding rock and alpine climbs in the Colorado Rockies as a teenager. After studying journalism at Colorado State University he spent much of his twenties guiding, climbing, and skiing all over the world including expeditions to China, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand as well as all over Europe and North America. In 2006, he led an expedition to Cerro Fitzroy in Patagonia where the team did the first free ascent of the peak’s 1700-meter east face garnering Golden Piton Award from Climbing Magazine for the best big wall ascent of the year. He lives in Colorado with his wife and twin son and daughter. His books include Bugaboo Dreams, the story of the invention and state of the art of helicopter skiing and mountain guiding; Designed by Adventure, the story of Outdoor Research and the heyday of outdoor product innovation, and Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills. His most recent book, Advanced Rock Climbing: Expert Skills and Techniques is a collection of 40 years of climbing wisdom, alternative techniques and a look at safety management for climbers wanting to both improve as climbers as well as be safer in the process.