People

In 2012, Ryan first paddled into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as a 16-year-old who had just moved to Minnesota. Fourteen years and 20+ trips later, he’s a PhD candidate in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studying how climate change is reshaping bird populations across North America. 

Those early BWCA trips gave him the skills and passion to foster a career in conservation. In these trips, he learned his first bird song (the oh so sweet whistle of the White-throated Sparrow), watched beavers engineer wetlands, sipped white pine tea, and was introduced to the tension between mining and conservation in this region. Sparking a lifelong commitment to ecology and teaching. Today, in addition to finishing up the PhD, Ryan teaches courses at UW-Madison like Birds of Southern Wisconsin, Ornithology, Introductory Biology, and "Winter Living", blending field experience with conservation science. 

He’s also an avid biker, bikepacker, birder, and outdoor endurance enthusiast (three completed Ironman races...some finished more gracefully than others). 

Starting Fall 2026, Ryan will join the Wild Rockies Field Institute as an instructor, leading college-level immersive, place-based field courses focused on ecological literacy, stewardship, and conservation in action. Pretty much a dream job.

Ryan's Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/31971556

Zach has been exploring the Boundary Waters since 2012, when he headed north for his first trip with his dad and cousin Ryan. He’s since logged 20+ BWCA trips, including three in the dead of winter, because why not.

He went to the University of Minnesota Duluth to stay close to the Northwoods and spent most of his free time hiking, biking, and heading out on solo adventures. He’s completed nearly every section of the Superior Hiking Trail and has traveled extensively throughout northern Minnesota on his own as well as leading many trips with friends.

This expedition brings together the three things Zach loves most: wilderness canoe travel, long-distance hiking, and biking. He trains year-round through mountain biking, trail running, and strength work, and has even completed the Grand Traverse ultramarathon on the southern end of the SHT. He’s also spent the past several years at Duluth Pack, deepening his knowledge of gear systems and reinforcing a lifelong connection to the North Shore and wilderness travel.

With more than 30 years of experience teaching Outdoor Adventures at Blaine High School, Larry brings a lifetime of leadership to this journey. This summer marks his 60th trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, fittingly in the same year he turns 60, a milestone that reflects decades of dedication to the outdoors.

Over the course of his career, Larry has introduced and immersed thousands of students in the beauty, challenge, and responsibility of wilderness travel. His influence reaches far beyond the classroom, shaping how generations of young people experience nature and themselves within it.

While Larry will be joining TST for the canoe portion of the expedition, his impact extends across the entire journey. He was the first to introduce the Northwoods to the other TST travelers Zach (his son), Ryan (his nephew), and Noah and Owen (Zach's good friends). All four are fellow travelers on this expedition, and Larry has played a formative role in each of their lives, fostering a shared love for wilderness that continues today.

Larry’s deep knowledge of the Northwoods and unmatched experience in the Boundary Waters are the true catalysts behind this expedition, setting the tone, values, and spirit for everyone involved.