Our Wildway Crew highlights ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Within each of us lies the potential to live life to the fullest. We have the ability to choose our own destiny, live without fear or limits, challenge ourselves and grow, do and be whatever makes us happy. We have the ability to be free. It's how you live a Wildway of life and there are people all around us inspiring others with their actions. We want to celebrate that by highlighting and honoring those who #LiveWild.
Meet this week's featured Wildway Crew member:
Ryan Riggins
Orinda, California
Wildway of Life = Adventure
Outlook = "The biggest risk of all is the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet that you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later."
Wildway of Choice = Granola Snack Packs (they're handy for my climbs & excursions)
Meet Ryan. Growing up in a family that prioritized adventure made a lasting impact on Ryan. He constantly seeks out adventure through travel, sports, and even in his career path. Read his story and be inspired to find your own adventure.
Here is Ryan's story in his own words:
"My Wildway of Life began at a young age and it has been going strong ever since. There was no real turning point where I chose a Wildway of Life rather a steady progression climbing higher and venturing further.
It all began when I started skiing at the age of 4. Then it really took off in Patagonia when I was 10 years old. My parents took my brother and I out of school to run the Rio Baker for 3 weeks and it was on that trip that I saw REAL mountains for the first time. The jagged spires were burned into my subconscious and it was then I knew I wanted to lead a life centered around wild places.
Fast forward a handful of years I found myself in Yosemite Valley testing my mettle on some of the most famous rock formations in the world. Reared through the ranks by mentors who favored trial by fire, I spent my teenage years honing my craft on the massive seas of granite. Terrified.
I took that adventurous spirit on the road with me when I decided to travel for a year solo. Navigating large portions of Central/ South America and finishing it up in New Zealand, I climbed, hiked, surfed, suffered and ate my way through one of the best years of my life.
Ultimately, I traded my passport in for a text book when I landed in Durango, Co where I attended Fort Lewis College and began my career as a mountain guide. I spent the following 4 1/2 years studying, skiing and guiding in some of the largest swaths of wilderness Colorado has to offer. It was in Durango where I found my tribe of adventure seekers and together, we tackled some unforgettable objectives together.
Now out of school, my muse is trying to find the balance of adult life and playtime. My passion for remote locations, foreign cultures, good friends and even better memories is what drives me to never settle for a life of mediocrity. As the Marketing Director for Mountain Professionals and Marketing Coordinator for Vendavo, I must work hard AND play hard and I eagerly accept that challenge.
I love to believe there are still unexplored regions of our earth and I hope to spend the vast majority of my life pursuing those places with good people all while sharing the value of our wild places with others in the way that developed my personal infatuation. I’m motivated to constantly keep pushing past my comfort zone while crafting a life that inspires others to take chances and embrace risk."
