Andrew Drummond, the unofficial “FKT (Fastest Known Time) Guide” for the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is building community and inspiring adventure in the East Coast trail running and backcountry ski scene. Drummond is a backcountry and ski mountaineering (skimo) athlete who converts to trail running in the summer. He has competed internationally in trail running and skimo, yet finds his heart drawn to the beautiful and rugged wilderness of the “Whites.”
In addition to his own running and skiing career, he shares his love for the outdoors through his retail store Ski the Whites, which serves as a ski, run, bike and coffee specialty store, and hosts both trail running and skiing events throughout the year.
In the following article, I interview Drummond, who offers details about his shop, skiing/running passions and how they compliment each other, FKT projects, and much more.
Andrew Drummond. Photo: Monte McIndoe.
[TAYTE POLLMANN] When did you start trail running and what was the inspiration?
[ANDREW DRUMMOND] I started trail running seriously in 2014. I was inspired by my partner Hilary McCloy during a local duathlon where athletes ran a road 10K, biked 20 miles up to a ski resort, then ran 2,000 feet to the summit of the resort. I saw the lead man go by and thought, “Why don’t I start training for events like this?” That evening I signed up for a half marathon. The rest is sort of history. I made a point to enter all different types of events ranging from snowshoe racing to nordic skiing, but I gravitated towards running the rugged trails of the White Mountains.
[TAYTE] You own the retail store, Ski the Whites, that organizes ski and running events. Could you take us through a schedule of your upcoming events?
[ANDREW] We host events over half the weeks of the year. Our Friday Night Vertical series is a 10-week community fun run/hike up a local ski hill. We wrapped up our fifth season of that series, hosted a 10K road race, and the Bubba’s Backyard Ultra on October 1, 2022. Our last running event of the season was the Blackout Mountain Race, a nighttime 5K/10K trail race held on November 5. We’re now transitioning into ski season and finalizing that schedule right now. The last person standing format has really taken off and Bubba’s has a feel that’s difficult to replicate. It’s a 3.5-mile loop that is deceivingly challenging (the current record is 45 hours).
[TAYTE] You live in Jackson, NH. What is a day in the life like in Jackson? How would you describe the trail running/skiing community where you live?
[ANDREW] I moved to Jackson right when COVID-19 hit and I hadn’t spent too much time exploring the local trail networks but was surprised to see the variety of terrain that’s right out the door. We have a few nordic trail networks that link up to the White Mountains so I spent the summer of 2020 doing 20 to 40 mile point-to-point runs on these trails. It was a great way to experience my home mountains with some creative routes. Both the backcountry ski and trail running communities are growing every year but Jackson has historically lacked a community feel because it’s full of second homes and retirees. That seems to be shifting though and while Jackson isn’t quite a hub (it’s very expensive to live here) it’s more like a network of smaller communities dotted throughout the region. We’re just ten minutes from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center which is one of the most popular trailheads in the White Mountains, which makes this an ideal town to live in for any trail runner.
Andrew skiing into Tuckerman’s Ravine. Photo: Chris Shane.
[TAYTE] You’ve been called the “FKT Guide for the Whites.” Take us through what that means and how you design or decide on FKT routes to challenge yourself and inspire others?
[ANDREW] I’ve always had a fascination with the FKT scene here in the White Mountains. If you look at some of our premiere routes like the Presidential Traverse, Pemi Loop, or Hut Traverse, it’s understandable why it’s easy to get caught up in the scene; they are beautiful routes that showcase the majority of trails that are above tree-line. FKTs are the perfect way to test yourself against other times or your own goals. I look at these classics but I also try to find new routes that inspire me, ones that are aesthetic and don’t necessarily focus on the summits but the trails they cover. It’s hard not to overdo it because there are so many trails around here worth running. Pouring over online route builders and paper maps is a fun way to spend an evening before a long run day.
[TAYTE] You identify as a backcountry/skimo athlete who converts to trail running in the summer. How do your winter skiing and summer trail running compliment each other? What skills crossover from skiing to running and vice versa?
[ANDREW] Our ski season is relatively short and inconsistent but ski tours generally take more time and energy when compared to trail running. We are often up before sunrise, skiing whatever the conditions allow us. Most years we’ll be skiing through May but we start running consistently in April. It’s refreshing to have these breaks in sport to recharge the excitement and give our bodies the sport-specific recovery that they need. Skiing really helps the cardio tremendously but it’s still a shock to the system when switching to skiing. I find it easier to transition to ski season than run season and doing pre-season strength and conditioning go a long way for having a safe and healthy season. Going into early ski season, all the hiking we do is a huge benefit for the early skiing season that’s only accessed by foot. Also, doing specific plyometrics will help stave the leg burn off a bit longer on those opening season ski runs.
Andrew running the Vermont 100 Mile. Photo: Chris Shane.
[TAYTE] I’ve heard you’re a coffee lover. Would you like to share more about your passion for coffee?
[ANDREW] I’m obsessed with coffee. In 2009, I discovered the coffee scene in the Bay Area with Blue Bottle being one of my first introductions to specialty coffee. In 2013, I picked up a countertop home roaster and purchased green coffee beans online. When I secured our retail location I saw an opportunity to start roasting commercially and I think we have some of the best coffee out there. We have a small coffee bar with a La Marzocco Linea Mini machine that churns out beautiful shots of our FKT espresso blend. Coffee is another way to bring customers into the shop and create a community hub where we can be a resource for recommendations, gear, and of course great coffee.
[TAYTE] For those unfamiliar with the White Mountains, could you take us through what it’s like to run on trails in the White Mountains? How might these trails be different from others you’ve run on across the world and what makes them iconic “New England” trails?
[ANDREW] Trails in the Whites are notoriously technical and very direct. Many have eroded down to rocks and roots and will slow your pace down to a brisk hike. But these trails are surrounded by beautiful streams, viewpoints and vast wilderness. There are enough trails in the Whites to keep things fresh with many popular mountains having several unique routes to the summit. I’ve been fortunate to travel to some other classic running cities (Boulder, Salt Lake City, Chamonix, etc.) and I’m always excited to return home to these trails. You really do have to come see them for yourself to understand.
[TAYTE] What tips would you have for skiers interested in summer trail running training?
From experience, ease into summer trail running. I make a point to do running specific strength work, limit mileage, and do a proper build up to my goals. The problem coming off ski season is that the engine is there but the specific muscle and connective tissue recruitment might take longer to adapt. If you can get some running in during the winter it will help the transition but ultimately you’ll just want to be disciplined and not get too excited to ramp up the mileage or intensity.
[TAYTE] You’ve raced all kinds of distances of trail races from shorter up to ultramarathons. What is your favorite distance and style of trail racing?
[ANDREW] I like to vary the distances and keep things interesting. In years past, I’ve done UTMB events including OCC and TDS, the Vermont 50, Vermont 100 Mile, and Bubba’s Backyard Ultra (119 miles). I’m definitely looking to get back into the 100-mile distance for a mountain race and continue to learn about myself and meet more incredible people in our community.
Ski The Whites coffee. Photo: Richard Bolt.
[TAYTE] You’ve had many exciting adventure projects over the years. What was the inspiration behind your “Direttissima” project?
[ANDREW] The Direttissima came about after crewing Scott Jurek through the White Mountains on his Appalachian Trail speed record. When I stepped off the trail, I wanted to find a project for myself. Something big enough to fail, something multi-day. I’d heard of Arlette Laan who had linked up all of New Hampshire’s 48 4,000 foot mountains on foot (only a handful of other documented efforts had been made before hers). The route is known as the Direttissima. It seemed like the perfect project and I spent the next year fixated on it. It is a balance of out-and-backs where you can drop your pack and other sections that make sense to thru-hike. It’s roughly 250 miles with 80,000 feet of elevation gain. Doing this project in 2016 was the most difficult physical and mental effort up to that point of my life and re-shaped the way I viewed a lot of things. Most importantly, it opened up my mind to what we’re capable of and how I look at my home mountains.
[TAYTE] What’s your next project/adventure? Any wild things you’ve been dreaming of?
[ANDREW] Each summer I try to line up some goals that keep me motivated. Anything from an ultra race, a long distance project, or just hitting personal record times in more traditional distances. This summer I didn’t have anything lined up (my body hasn’t felt 100 percent coming off ski season) so I spent more time helping other friends in the community on their White Mountain projects. I’ve discovered that having patience and perspective in the sport has kept things fun. It’s also a balance managing a specialty trail running shop, hosting events, and finding personal time to enjoy other sports such as biking. I’m looking for a 100-mile race for next summer and would love to fastpack long trail routes.
[TAYTE] Is there anything I missed that you’d like to discuss?
[ANDREW] I’d like to share a little more on the history of our shop. Ski The Whites is a specialty ski, bike, run, and coffee shop. I started the shop in 2016 by renting out modern backcountry ski gear, and hosting a winter night touring series at the local mountain where my first shop was. In the summer I needed work so I added on running brands and hosted a summer running series. In 2020, we moved into our current location and added bikes (e-bike, mountain bikes, and gravel bikes).
