Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Roy Roth Has Died in a Fall While Sheep Hunting

I do not have anything on the net yet, but got a couple texts this morning that he fell while on a sheep hunt. He grew up with Cameron Hanes in Oregon and moved to AK. They were hunting partners with me on Kodiak once and Roy left one Hell of an impression.

He carried Cam's camp, camera, and an entire Sitka blacktail over the top of a mountain and back to the boat. Weather was well beyond horrible and he still managed the feat without even the slightest suggestion it was heavy.

He paddled my raft once with the butt of my favorite 101, and suggested it was my fault for not knowing better than loan it to him!

There are many other stories, but I am just a little bit in shock right now.
art

He sounds like the kind of friend I'd like to have. RIP.

Here's a brief news clip.

http://www.frontiersman.com/breakin...685bd72-6bb7-11e5-abef-f73238b20fbb.html

To die, while doing what you love to do, is not the worst way to go, may he rest in peace.

Thank you for posting that!

WASILLA — A well-known area sheep hunter died after falling down a mountainside Sunday evening, authorities said.

Roy Roth, 49, of Wasilla, was the owner and guide for Roy Roth’s Alaskan Adventures, a hunting and fishing service.

Roth was hunting sheep on Pioneer Peak near Goat Creek when he fell down the mountainside. A hunter in Roth’s party hiked down the mountain and confirmed his death, according to an Alaska State Troopers media release.

Troopers and the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group are working to recover Roth’s body, which is in a location requiring technical expertise to recover, according to the dispatches.

"We don't have a lot more than that right now because we haven't reached the scene," said spokeswoman Megan Peters on Monday at about 3:15 p.m.

Roth has been featured on the cover of magazines like Bowhunter, and hunters had already taken to several outdoors forums to post remembrances of the man on Monday.

Calls to Roth’s guide business were not immediately returned Monday afternoon. Listed numbers for his construction business had been disconnected.

Pioneer Peak is a 6,398-foot mountain that rises dramatically from the Knik River Valley. Its steep slopes are popular for both fall hunters and backcountry hikers in the summer.

This is a developing story; check back for updates.

Here's the Trooper dispatch:

On 10/04/15 at approximately 1815 hours, Alaska State Troopers received a report that Roy Roth, 49 of Wasilla, was hunting sheep on Pioneer Peak near Goat Creek when he fell down the mountainside. A hunter with Roth hiked down the mountainside and confirmed Roth was deceased. Recovery efforts are being coordinated between AST and the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group. The recovery requires AMRG technical rescue personnel due to the difficult terrain. Next of kin has been notified.

Damn...

Tough to lose a hunting partner and friend anytime.
Prayers to his family and friends.

Art,

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

Art - sorry about your friend. Please keep us updated.

Sorry for your loss. Pioneer Peak - is that where they hold a race up the mountain every year?

Nope, that would be Mount Marathon out of Seward.

Sorry to hear about the loss of an old pard and friend. (Though hardly old…)

Really sad deal, sounds like he was a hell of a guy.

Tanner

That's a sad deal.

Sorry to hear this Art. 49 is definitely too young.

Brings up a lot of memories for me, hate reading news like this.

Art, sorry for the loss of your friend. Prayers for you and his family. RIP

Sorry for your loss and prayers for his family and friends. He sounds like a hell of a man.

Pioneer is that big ugly mother one sees from Palmer/Wasilla area. Makes Marthon look like a termite heap.

They race on Matanuska Peak (Matanuska Peak Challenge) - not Pioneer.

Damn shame. True though, no better way to go, than what you love doing.

Very young though to leave family behind and lots of life in front of him.

Though I sure give him credit for living it.

Thoughts prayers and sympathy for family and friends. Sounds like he was the kind of man we all should strive to be.

There is an annual race up Pioneer now. It started in 2014 and goes up to 5280' elevation before the mountain gets really technical.

GoFundMe acct set up for Roy's family is doing well........

https://www.gofundme.com/royrothlegacyfund

Very, very sad. Sounds like a helluva guy.

I've always wanted to do a sheep hunt in AK, but I figure that those days are behind me now at my age.

hate to hear this

sorry for your loss


rip

part of the allure

At 49, still going strong, doing what he loved to do. As some of the Native American family would say, it was a good death. And please don't get this wrong, he was still young and vibrant I'm sure. But if you have to go, do it when you are doing something you like. RIP

Wow, that is a sad story. Sounded like one heck of a man

Found this video of Roys Brown Bear hunt ! May he RIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ8uoda8NQc

Dandy bear!

Good video, 2 big bears going at it and Roy waiting for his turn and he made it happen.

RIP Roy Roth

Sorry to hear this. Been in some sporty spots sheep hunting. Places where a misstep can end in disaster. RIP Roy, I’d say you did some living in those 49 years.

That was one hell of a tribute video!
Bigazz bears fighting, that short time earlier when the bear stood up on the river bank deciding what to do.

RIP Roy Roth, many will miss you, but you went out doing what you loved.

I had watched that before. looks like a heck of a good guy. Sorry for your loss. Damn shame.