Ryan Emery
Ryan was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. He spent his time climbing, hiking and skiing in the Black Hills while attending high school and working at Granite Sports, one of the local gear shops located in Hill City, South Dakota. Ryan has spent a significant amount of time exploring the wonderful climbing opportunities throughout his homeland, and he possesses excellent knowledge of the Black Hills and the surrounding areas.
Ryan spent some time attending college at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana before deciding to fully invest his time and efforts towards pursuing a career in guiding and outdoor education. In Bozeman, he began working for the school's Outdoor Recreation Program, which is where his passion grew for teaching and leading backpacking, skiing, and rock climbing trips. He fell in love with winter climbing and backcountry skiing, and he has started working towards his professional goals of instructing avalanche education, backcountry ski guiding, and working in alpine environments. Ryan has been working for Sylvan Rocks Climbing School & Guide Service since 2021. In addition to guiding Western South Dakota, he has begun working in Wyoming, Montana, and Utah, which has broadened his experience as an outdoor industry professional.
In his personal time, Ryan enjoys furthering his knowledge and education through continued professional development, slashing through powder on his skis, chasing frozen waterfalls, spending time with family & friends, enjoying high mileage days on nearby trails, and being an amateur coffee connoisseur.
Certifications
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide
AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
Wilderness First Responder